Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bc4/3...Nf6/4. Ng5/4...d5/5. exd5/5...Na5/6. Bb5/6...c6/7. dxc6/7...bxc6/8. Qf3

Two Knights with 8.Qf3
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) r1bqkb1r/p4ppp/2p2n2/nB2p1N1/8/5Q2/PPPP1PPP/RNB1K2R b
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5 c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Qf3

Two Knights with 8.Qf3

8. Qf3?!

Develops the queen and pins the c6 pawn, as ...cxb5 gives Qxa8.

This variation has become popular in light of the game Nigel Short vs Mark Hebden in which Short won convincingly. However, computer analysis has suggested that Black has full compensation for the pawn. Black now faces the prospect of giving up a second pawn or the a8 Rook in order to maintain a development 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 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6

		8	9	10	11	12	13
	1	Qf3 Qd5	Qxd5 Nxd5	Be2 -	+/=
	2	... h6	Ne4 Nd5	Ba4 Be7	d3 O-O	O-O f5	+/=	N. Short v's M. Hebden
	3	... Be7	Bxc6+ Nxc6	Qxc6+ Bd7	Qc4 O-O	Nc3 Bf5	∞
	4	... cxb5	Qxa8 Bc5	O-O O-O	b4 Bxb4			∞
Colman's Defence	5	... Rb8	Bxc6 Nxc6	Qxc6+ Nd7	d3 Be7	Ne4 Rb6	Qa4 f5	∞
	6	... ...	Bd3 Be7	O-O O-O	Re1 Rb4	Nc3 Rf4	∞
	7	... ...	... h6	Ne4 Nd5	b3 g6	Bb2 Bg7	∞

Statistics

Estimated next move likelihood
Rb8 60%, Be7 11%, h6 9.5%, Qc7 7%, Bb7 7%, cxb5 3.5%, Qd5 2%

References

• Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.

External links

• http://sport.guardian.co.uk/chess/story/0,,1877380,00.html