Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bc4/3...Bc5/4. c3/4...Nf6/5. d4/5...exd4/6. cxd4/6...Bb4

Center Attack
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) r1bqk2r/pppp1ppp/2n2n2/8/1bBPP3/5N2/PP3PPP/RNBQK2R w
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4
Parent: Giuoco Piano

Center Attack

6...Bb4+

The bishop must move, and move it did! White has three options to block the check.

7. Bd2 is a natural blocking move. Black can either trade and break the center with 8...d5, or immediately take with 7...Nxe4 which leads to complicated variations and the sacrifice Bxf7+!

7. Nc3 is another natural blocking move, but hangs the e4 pawn. This is the Greco Gambit, where White then castles and allows the loss of a pawn for development.

7. Kf1 is not usually played, as White can no longer castle and hangs the e4 pawn. For the pawn, White gains initiative and attacks Black. Black has to find only moves to keep advantage.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+

	7	8	9	10
	Bd2 Bxd2	Nxd2 d5	exd5 Nxd5	Qb3 Nce7	=
	Bd2 Nxe4	Bxb4 Nxb4	Bxf7+ Kxf7	Qb3+ d5	=
Greco Gambit	Nc3 Nxe4	O-O Bxc3	d5 Bf6	Re1 Nce7	=/+
Cracow Variation	Kf1 Nxe4	d5 Nce7	Qd4 Nf6	Bg5 c5	=