BG Declined (3.e3 with 5.Bd2)

Carrying on in our Budapest Gambit Declined series, we will now examine another way White may choose to defend, namely by supporting the d pawn. This is a short blog, which is good because it show Black reaches equality or better in double-quick time!

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 and now White plays 3.e3

This move offers the initiative to Black and allows for Black to put pressure on the White, before he has chance to develop his pieces and castle. As with the 3.Bg5 alternative, this is achieved with the move

3...exd4

Where White's only has one sensible move (see the future pdf, underdevelopment, for reasons why), which invites Black's pressure move.

4.exd4 Bb4+

White has three options to block the check:

• 5.Bd2 – choosing to both block and attack the Bishop pin.
• 5.Nc3 – moving the Knight to it’s natural square, but leave the possibility of doubled pawns on the c-file.
• 5.Nd2 – temporarily block the dark-squared Bishop.

In this blog we will quickly mention, 4.Bd2. In the next blog we will examine further 4.Nc3 and 4.Nd2, which are more complex.

5.Bd2

Again Black exchanges the pieces (these are not lot tempos as the gained tempo is immediately lost by having to capture).

5...Bxb2+

White can choose to take with either the Queen or Knight, but either way Black castles. After castling Black is looking to play Nc6, Re1, d6 or d5 and getting is Bishop active on the d7 or g4 squares. White's moves will be defending moves, whilst the White King looks for safety, whereas Black will develop quickly and be in the best position to attack first.

I hope you have enjoyed this post.

Howard Stern Playing the BG Declined

Q: What have Will Smith, Howard Stern, me and you got in common?

A: They all play chess!

In this blog I'm going to post one of "Shock-Jock" Stern's shorter games! He's quite a good player and has an ELO rating of 1600 - you can often catch him on the ICC. He's a great fan of gambits and especially the Budapest Gambit - one of my personal favourites).

This is a BG declined with 3.d5. We've mainly looked at 3.Bg5, so far, but I'll be blogging more on the 3.d5 move next and this seems a nice way to introduce it.

Stern - Unknown
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.d5
Incorrectly White chooses to decline the Gambit. White gets his best game if he accepts with 3.dxe5.

3...Bc5
The strongest position for the Black bishop putting pressure on the f2 square.

4.h3?!
A terrible choice by White. Yes, this avoids 4...Ng4 there are other ways to attack the f2 square. 4.e3 or 4.Nc3 are stronger. Allowing Stern to go straight for the kill.

4...Bxf2+!


5.Kxf2
Best move, as 5.Kd2 leads to 5...Ne4+ and 6...Ng3 where either the Rook falls.

5...Nxe4+
In either case this is the best move.

6.Kf3
In a losing position White throws himself on the sword.

6... Qh4 7.g4 f5
Fritz says this in Stern's only move to keep the attack flowing, but it makes sense and not hard to find.


8.gxf5 Rf8 9.Ke3
White makes another positional mistake. 9.Nc3 would extend the agony!

9...Rxf5
Moving pieces in to the attack.

10.Nf3 Qf4+
Now comes the end.

11.Kd3 Nf2+ 0-1
White resigns. 12.Kc2 Qe4+ and the Queen falls.


I hope you enjoyed this game from a surprising player.

BG Declined (3.Bg5 with 4.Nf3)

In the last blog we saw the Budapest Gambit get declined. White chose to pin the Knight on f6 with 3.Bg5, instead. Our best response is to take the d pawn, leaving the move order: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.Bg5 exd4

The move 4.Qxd4 is White's best in this position and has already been examined (in out last blog), but White may choose to play a developing move first. In this blog we will examine 4.Nf3.

4.Nf3 attacks the undefended Black Pawn at d4. The only way to defend this Pawn is by playing c5, which would restrict Black dark-squared Bishop and place Black behind in development. But White’s thinking is flawed, as there is an intermediate move which would allow the Bishop to develop with a tempo.

4...Bb4+ forcing 5.Nbd2 because 5.Bd2 Bxd2 6.Qxd2 c5 is strong enough for Black. Now we can play 5...c5 and exchange the bishop at a time of our choosing.

Black has restricted White's development and gained a pawn in the process.

In my study I often write down further analysis - possible continuations - that I don't usually include in this blog, but due to the short nature of this one I have this time!

Further Analysis

• To develop unhindered White may have to choose to play 6.e3 and exchange his last remaining centre pawn, for Black’s doubled Pawn.
  
• Another option for White is to play 6.a3, but after 6…Ba5 7.b4 cxb4 8.Nxd4 Nc6 and White has very little for his lost Pawn.

BG Declined (3.Bg5 with 4.Qxe4)

The Budapest Gambit starts with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5!?

When gambits are played he/she wants them to be accepted. Accepting the gambit usually allows the Gambiteer to move the game into a prepared line of theory, where they know the tactics, strategy and traps. In many respects any player who declines the gambit is doing so to keep away from this preparation. It is therefore imperative that the Gambiteer is equally prepared in the declined as well as accepted lines.

The 2…e5 move forces White to decide whether to accept the gambit or decline the gambit.

If you are playing an opponent who knows of the BG or is of a relatively high rating they will most likely accept this gambit. However, not all of the BG games you play will be accepted gambits, some will be declined.

Declining the gambit gives Black equality through standard opening practice and in certain lines we can see Black gaining an advantage. Black will most likely have the first opportunity to castle, gain an equal control of the centre and good mobilisation of the pieces. In short, White loses the initiative.

White’s Options
We will now look at the options that White has when choosing to decline the gambit pawn. Each of these variations will be explained separately, but you will notice similarities between a number of them, e.g. castling kingside, the King’s Bishop moving to b4 or c5 and most importantly exd4 (where possible). This post concentrates solely on 3.Bg5 (with 4.Qxe4).

There are a number of options for White:

• 3.Bg5 – immediately pinning the knight
• 3.e3 - supporting the d4 pawn
• 3.Nf3 - supporting the d4 with a Knight
• 3.d5 - pushing the pawn.

Other options like 3.Be3 can be dismissed, for now, as they block pawns or development and simply taking the d4 pawn and developing naturally will give Black an advantage.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.Bg5

The pin on the Black Knight threatens to weaken Black’s early control of the e4 square, but any exchange here would be better for Black as the game is likely to become open and beneficial to Bishops.

The pin should be met with the immediate pawn exchange

3...exd4

White has 2 sensible options. He can either choose to take the pawn immediately with 4.Qxd4 or develop first with 4.Nf3. We examine 4.Nf3 in our next blog!

Other variations, such as 4.Nbd2 or 4.g3 allow 4…Nc6 and the Pawn is difficult for White to win back.

4.Qxd4

White puts more pressure on the Knight at f6, but his Queen is out early and can be kicked off the d4 square whenever Black chooses.

4…Nc6


Immediately threatening the Queen, with a developing move, where a retreat gives Black a tempo.

After a retreat by White’s Queen the moves Be7, d6 and 0-0 will serve Black well, giving a solid playable position with open lines and an advantage in development.

We will examine 2 possible continuations where White chooses not to lose the tempo; firstly he may take the Knight on f6 and secondly the Queen move with check on e3.

• 5.Bxf6
  
  

If White takes the pinned Knight we recommend removing the Queens from the board.

5…Nxd4 6.Bxd8 Kxd8

The lose of the castling is not an issue as the White King must now play 7.Kd1 or 7.Kd2 to avoid the Black Knight move 7…Nc2 winning the Knight-Rook exchange.

Black will have equality at least, having the Bishop-pair and a target with the White Pawn at c4.

Another 5th move option for White in the position shown on Board #7 is to move the queen with check.

• 5.Qe3+

This is the White Queen’s 2nd move and blocks the e2 pawn. Here the Black Queen developing to the e7 square.

5…Qe7

This leaves White with a problem:

• Firstly, he can either immediately exchange Queens with 6.Qxe7+ Bxe7 leaving Black ready to castle and 3 pieces to 1 developed.
  
• He may choose a developing move (e.g. 6.Nc3) where Black should exchange Queens and force White to either double his pawns on the e file or take with the Bishop and continue to block in his e2 pawn, e.g. (6…Qxe3 7.Bxe3 b6 preparing to fiancetto the bishop).
  
• Play 6.Bxf6 where the exchange of Queens would leave Black with doubled pawns on the f-file and White with doubled pawns on the e-file, i.e. 6…Qxe3 7.fxe3 gxf6.
  
• The final choice would be to move the queen for a third time, e.g. 6.Qd2 and lose a tempo.

The move 3.Bg5 in the declined Budapest Gambit causes Black little trouble and in many lines aids with development, due to the Queens early development.