Giuoco Piano Attacking with 4.c3 Richard Westbrook, 2006.

. White can play for an attack at move four with c2-c3 (instead of d2-d3, 0-0, or other move.) It is a time-honored, aggressive line which gives the first player good chances. This lesson explores some of the main lines from White s perspective and provides sample games. We reach the first important position after the moves: 1.e4 2.Nf3 3.Bc4 4.c3 5.d4 6.cxd4 e5 Nc6 Bc5 Nf6 exd4 19.Rxe2 20.Re8 21.Nd5 22.Ne7+ 7.Nc3 Nxf8 Kg8 g6 1 0. Euwe-Jutte, 1927.

White sometimes plays 7.Bd2 or 7.Nbd2, but the text is the most accurate.

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwqk+-tr0 7zppzpp+pzpp0 6-+n+-sn-+0 5+-vl-+-+-0 4-+LzPP+-+0 3+-+-+N+-0 2PzP-+-zPPzP0 1tRNvLQmK-+R0 xabcdefghy
6 Bb4+

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwqk+-tr0 7zppzpp+pzpp0 6-+n+-sn-+0 5+-+-+-+-0 4-vlLzPP+-+0 3+-sN-+N+-0 2PzP-+-zPPzP0 1tR-vLQmK-+R0 xabcdefghy
7... 7... 8.e5 9.0 0! 10.bxc3 11.Ng5! Nxe4 0 0? Ne4 Nxc3 Bxc3 Bxa1?

Other moves are less accurate: e.g., 6... Bb6? 7.d5 Ne7 If 7...Nb8 8.e5 Ne4; and If 7...Na5 8.Bd3 c5 White has fine play. 8.e5 9.0 0 10.Qe2 11.b4 12.d6 13.exd6 14.Bg5 15.Be7 16.Nc3 17.Rae1 18.Bxf8 Ne4 0 0 Nc5 Na6 cxd6 Ng6 Qe8 Kh8 Nxb4 Nc6 Qxe2

Black must find 11... d5 12.Qd3 g6 13.Qxc3 dxc4 14.Be3 Qd5 White will win the c4-pawn, but the exchanges equalize the position. 12.Qh5! h6

This is "Greco's Mate" pattern, but there is no mate unless Black blunders. Nevertheless, White wins decisive material. (See diagram, top of next page.)

Giuoco Piano Attacking with 4.c3 Richard Westbrook, 2006.

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwq-trk+0 7zppzpp+pzp-0 6-+n+-+-zp0 5+-+-zP-sNQ0 4-+LzP-+-+0 3+-+-+-+-0 2P+-+-zPPzP0 1vl-vL-+RmK-0 xabcdefghy
13.Nxf7!! 14.exd6! 15.Bxf7+ 15... 16.Bxh6!! 17.Bg5+ 18.Bxd8 19.Bg6 20.Qxh7+ 21.Qh8#. 15... 16.Bxh6! 17.Bf4+ 18.Bxh6 19.Qg6+ 20.Qxh6#. d5 Rxf7 Kf8 Kh8? Bf5!? Bh7 Rxd8 Kg8 Kf8

7...

d5.

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwqk+-tr0 7zppzp-+pzpp0 6-+n+-sn-+0 5+-+p+-+-0 4-vlLzPP+-+0 3+-sN-+N+-0 2PzP-+-zPPzP0 1tR-vLQmK-+R0 xabcdefghy
But we now know this to be bad, because after 8.exd5! Nxd5 9.0 0!! White is threatening to win a piece, and after (I) 9... Nxc3 10.bxc3 Perhaps even stronger is 10.Qe1+ Ne4 11.Qxe4+ Qe7 12.Qd3. 10... 11.Qb3! Bxc3?

Kh7? Qxd6 Qh6 gxh6 Kh8

16.Bc4! Qf6!? 17.Re1 Bf5 18.d7 g5 19.Re8+ Kg7 20.Rxa8 Bg6 21.Rg8+ Kh7 22.Rxg6! Qxg6 23.Qe2 Black is toast. One hundred years ago, after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 d5 instead of 7Nxe4, was a popular continuation for Black. (See diagram, top of next column.)

White's threats against f7 and c3 are decisive. For example,

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwqk+-tr0 7zppzp-+pzpp0 6-+n+-+-+0 5+-+-+-+-0 4-+LzP-+-+0 3+Qvl-+N+-0 2P+-+-zPPzP0 1tR-vL-+RmK-0 xabcdefghy
11... 12.Bxf7+ 13.Ba3+ Bxa1 Kf8 Ne7

Giuoco Piano Attacking with 4.c3 Richard Westbrook, 2006. White has several winning paths; they should all be studied carefully! The best is the amazing 14.Bg8!! Qe8 14... 15.Ne5 16.Qxe6 17.Qf5+ 18.Qxf7#. 15.Re1 Rxg8?? Be6 Qe8 Qf7 21.Nxe6 22.Bh6 23.Nxg7+ 24.Ne8+ 25.Nf6+ 26.Qxf7 27.Bg7# Rg7 Rb8 Kf8 Kg8 Kh8 Rd8

Other winning paths (although not quite as strong) are -

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+l+qmkLtr0 7zppzp-sn-zpp0 6-+-+-+-+0 5+-+-+-+-0 4-+-zP-+-+0 3vLQ+-+N+-0 2P+-+-zPPzP0 1vl-+-tR-mK-0 xabcdefghy
Threatening Rxe7 followed by a quick mate. For example, (skip Black s 15th move.) 16.Rxe7 c5 17.Rf7+ Or, 17.Bxc5 Be6 18.Rxe6+ Qe7 19.Rxe7 Rxg8 20.Qf7#. 17... 18.Rd7+ 19.Qxe6+ 20.Bxc5#. Kxg8 Qe6 Kf8

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwq-mk-tr0 7zppzp-snLzpp0 6-+-+-+-+0 5+-+-+-+-0 4-+-zP-+-+0 3vLQ+-+N+-0 2P+-+-zPPzP0 1vl-+-+RmK-0 xabcdefghy
14.Rxa1 Bf5 15.Re1 g6 16.Ng5 threatening Qd3 with a crushing attack. And, 14.Ng5 Qxd4 15.Re1 (15.Rd1 is good, too.) 15... g6 16.Be8! Qf4 17.Rxe7 is overwhelming. Returning to Black s 7th move error, 7d5?

So, after 15.Re1, Black might play 15... Bxd4 16.Nxd4 Rxg8 17.Qf3+ Qf7 18.Bxe7+ Ke8 19.Bg5+ Be6 20.Qd5!! g6

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwqk+-tr0 7zppzp-+pzpp0 6-+n+-sn-+0 5+-+p+-+-0 4-vlLzPP+-+0 3+-sN-+N+-0 2PzP-+-zPPzP0 1tR-vLQmK-+R0 xabcdefghy

Giuoco Piano Attacking with 4.c3 Richard Westbrook, 2006. after 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.0-0, even worse is for Black is (II) 9... Bxc3? 10.bxc3 Nxc3 11.Qe1+ which loses a piece. If 10... 0 0 (instead of Nxc3) 11.Qc2 threatens Ng5 and allows White to build a strong attack. For example, 20.Ng5 forcing Black to give up the queen in order to stop mate. 13.Ne5 14.Rxe5 If 14... 15.f3 16.Bxe6 17.Rxe6 +-. Nxe5 c6 +/-. Nf6? Be6 fxe6

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwq-trk+0 7zppzp-+pzpp0 6-+n+-+-+0 5+-+n+-+-0 4-+LzP-+-+0 3+-zP-+N+-0 2P+Q+-zPPzP0 1tR-vL-+RmK-0 xabcdefghy
11... h6

If Black errs at move 7, then after 8.exd5! Nxd5 9.0 0!!

Not, 11... Nf6? 12.Ba3 Re8 13.Ng5 Be6 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Rae1 Nd5 and the knight has to return, but White still has a strong attack after - 16.f4 threatening Rf3-h3, with Bd3 to add pressure to the light squares. +-. 12.Re1 Bg4

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwqk+-tr0 7zppzp-+pzpp0 6-+n+-+-+0 5+-+n+-+-0 4-vlLzP-+-+0 3+-sN-+N+-0 2PzP-+-zPPzP0 1tR-vLQ+RmK-0 xabcdefghy
Relatively best is (9C) 9... Be6 10.Bg5 Be7 11.Bxd5 Bxd5 12.Nxd5 Qxd5 13.Bxe7 Nxe7 14.Re1 but White has a strong position. Wilhelm Steinitz beat Bardeleben (Hastings, 1895) in a classic game from here. Returning to the main line, after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4, White continues 8.0 0!

Not, 12... Be6?! 13.Bxh6!! gxh6 14.Rxe6 fxe6 15.Qg6+ Kh8 16.Qxh6+ Kg8 17.Qxe6+ Kg7 18.Bxd5 +-. Weaker is 17...Kh8 18.Qh6+ Kg8 19.Qg6+! Kh8

Greco analyzed this line around 1620, but his ideas were disregarded for over two hundred years! (See diagram, top of next page.)

Giuoco Piano Attacking with 4.c3 Richard Westbrook, 2006.

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwqk+-tr0 7zppzpp+pzpp0 6-+n+-+-+0 5+-+-+-+-0 4-vlLzPn+-+0 3+-sN-+N+-0 2PzP-+-zPPzP0 1tR-vLQ+RmK-0 xabcdefghy
8... Bxc3!

Not 11... Ke7?? 12.Re1+! Leads to mate and is stronger than Bg5! 12... Kf8 13.Bh5 d5 14.Qxd5!! Be6 15.Qxe6 Qe7 16.Qf5+ Qf6 17.Ba3+ Nb4 18.Bxb4+ c5 19.Bxc5+ Kg8 20.Qd5+ Qf7 21.Qxf7#. 12.Bg5 Nxd4 13.Qa3+ Kxf7 14.Bxd8 Rxd8 15.Rxa1 Ne6 16.Re1 White s lead in development is compensation for the material deficit, but a win is far from certain. Even the sacrifice on f7 can be played, but it can be refuted with best defense.

This is the most dangerous move for White to face. Harmless is 8... Nxc3 9.bxc3 Bxc3

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwqk+-tr0 7zppzpp+pzpp0 6-+n+-+-+0 5+-+-+-+-0 4-+LzP-+-+0 3+-vl-+N+-0 2P+-+-zPPzP0 1tR-vLQ+RmK-0 xabcdefghy
White has two good continuations 10A) 10.Ba3! d5 11.Bb5 Bxa1 12.Re1+ Be6 13.Qa4 Rc8!? 14.Bxc6+ bxc6 15.Ne5 Qf6 16.Rxa1 Bd7 17.Re1 Kd8 18.Qxa7 Re8 19.Bc1 Threatens Bg5!! White's pressure is compensation for the material sacrificed. 10B) 10.Qb3!? Bxa1 11.Bxf7+ Kf8

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwqk+-tr0 7zppzpp+pzpp0 6-+n+-+-+0 5+-+-+-+-0 4-+LzP-+-+0 3+-vl-+N+-0 2P+-+-zPPzP0 1tR-vLQ+RmK-0 xabcdefghy
10C) 10.Bxf7+?! Kxf7 11.Bg5 Qg8 (amazingly, best!) 12.Qb3+ d5 13.Qxc3 With approximately equal chances if White acts quickly. The long-term prospects probably favor Black.

Giuoco Piano Attacking with 4.c3 Richard Westbrook, 2006. Finally, if after 8.0-0!,

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwqk+-tr0 7zppzpp+pzpp0 6-+n+-+-+0 5+-+-+-+-0 4-vlLzPn+-+0 3+-sN-+N+-0 2PzP-+-zPPzP0 1tR-vLQ+RmK-0 xabcdefghy
If Black also castles, 8...0 0 9.d5! (9.Nxe4? d5!) Bxc3 10.bxc3 Ne7 11.d6 and White went on to win in SpielmannCohn, Carlsbad, 1911. But safer is 11.Re1! Back to the main line. After the moves, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.0 0! Bxc3, White plays 9.d5!

(9a) Dubious is 9...Na5 10.Bd3! Nc5 11.bxc3 Nxd3 11... 0 0? 12.Bxh7+!! Kxh7 13.Ng5+ Kg6 If 13... Kg8 14.Qh5 Re8? Black must play ...Qxg5 to survive. 15.Qxf7+ Kh8 16.Qh5+ Kg8 17.Qh7+ Kf8 18.Qh8+ Ke7 19.Qxg7+ Kd6 20.Qg6+ Re6 If 20... Kxd5? 21.Rd1+ Kc4 22.Rd4+ Kxc3 23.Bb2+ Kxb2 24.Qb1+ Kc3 25.Qb4+ Kc2 26.Rd2#. 21.dxe6 dxe6 22.Nf7+ +14.h4!! Threatens h5 as well as Qg4, both of which are devastating. For example, (skip Black s move)

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwqk+-tr0 7zppzpp+pzpp0 6-+n+-+-+0 5+-+P+-+-0 4-+L+n+-+0 3+-vl-+N+-0 2PzP-+-zPPzP0 1tR-vLQ+RmK-0 xabcdefghy
This is the "Moeller Attack," named for Jorgen Moeller whose 1898 analysis put new life into this variation. The best way for Black to defend is 9...Bf6. Black can also try: (9a) 9Na5?!; (9b) 9Nd6?!; (9c) 9Ne7!?; (9d) 9Ba5!?; or (9e) 9Ne5!?.

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwq-tr-+0 7zppzpp+pzp-0 6-+-+-+k+0 5sn-snP+-sN-0 4-+-+-+-zP0 3+-zP-+-+-0 2P+-+-zPP+0 1tR-vLQ+RmK-0 xabcdefghy
15.Qg4 16.Re1 Kf6 Ne6

Giuoco Piano Attacking with 4.c3 Richard Westbrook, 2006. 17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.Bg5+ wins the queen and more. And 15.h5+ Kh6 16.Qg4 threatens mate in 3; or Nxf7+ picks up the queen. Returning to the variation 9...Na5!? 10.Bd3! Nc5 11.bxc3 Nxd3 12.Qxd3 13.Ng5 0 0 16.Rfe1 +-. 12.Nxe5 13.Qxe5+ Nxe5 Kf8

(13...Qe7?? 14.Qxg7 Rf8 15.Bg5!) 14.cxd7 15.Be3 +/-; Bxd7

After White plays 9.d5!

Worth considering is the thematic 13.d6 cxd6?! 14.Ng5 g6 15.Ne4 +/-. 13... g6 (13...f5 14.d6!) 14.Qh3 (or d6) h5 15.Ne4 White has an excellent game. After White plays 9.d5!

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwqk+-tr0 7zppzpp+pzpp0 6-+n+-+-+0 5+-+P+-+-0 4-+L+n+-+0 3+-vl-+N+-0 2PzP-+-zPPzP0 1tR-vLQ+RmK-0 xabcdefghy
(9c) Somewhat better is 9...Ne7!? 10.bxc3 But the Ne4 is a problem since it lacks a good retreat. For example, 10...0 0 10... Nxc3? 11.Qd4!; or, 10... Nd6!? 11.Bb3 0 0 Black has trouble completing his development. 11.Re1 Nf6 12.d6! cxd6!? 13.Bg5 Nf5 14.Qc2! White has a good game.

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwqk+-tr0 7zppzpp+pzpp0 6-+n+-+-+0 5+-+P+-+-0 4-+L+n+-+0 3+-vl-+N+-0 2PzP-+-zPPzP0 1tR-vLQ+RmK-0 xabcdefghy
(9b) Weak is 9...Nd6? Because it is too cramping. 10.dxc6 Nxc4 11.Qe2+ Be5 Not 11... Qe7?! 12.Qxc4 Ba5 13.Bg5 White has regained his piece! +-. 13... f6 14.Qd5 dxc6 (14...fxg5? 15.cxb7) 15.Qxa5 0 0

Giuoco Piano Attacking with 4.c3 Richard Westbrook, 2006. After White plays 9.d5!

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwqk+-tr0 7zppzpp+pzpp0 6-+n+-+-+0 5+-+P+-+-0 4-+L+n+-+0 3+-vl-+N+-0 2PzP-+-zPPzP0 1tR-vLQ+RmK-0 xabcdefghy
(9d) The rare 9...Ba5!? 10.dxc6 dxc6 11.Qa4 Bb6 12.Bxf7+ Kxf7 13.Qxe4 certainly favors White. Finally, After White plays 9.d5!

22.Rxh8 Kxh8 23.Rxf7 Kg8 24.Re7 (or Rxf6) +-. 12.Qxe4 Nb6

12... b5 13.a4 c6 14.axb5 cxb5 15.d6 +/=. Black has difficulty in untangling the position. In Dzindzhichashvili-Karpov, 1988, after 15.Qd4 Black misdefended with 15...Nb6 when ...Bb7 would have given him the better game. 13.d6 (A blocking sacrifice!) cxd6 14.Ng5 f5 If 14... 15.Qh4 16.Ba3 17.Rfe1 18.Rad1 19.Rxd6 Not 19... 20.Bb2! 21.Nxf7 22.Rxg6+ g6 h5 Qf6 Nd5 Nxc3 Ne2+ Qd8?? Qa5?? Rxf7 Kh7

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwqk+-tr0 7zppzpp+pzpp0 6-+n+-+-+0 5+-+P+-+-0 4-+L+n+-+0 3+-vl-+N+-0 2PzP-+-zPPzP0 1tR-vLQ+RmK-0 xabcdefghy
(9e) A complicated line is 9... Ne5 10.bxc3 Nxc4 11.Qd4 0 0 If 11... 12.Qxg7 13.Qxf6 14.Re1+ 15.Bh6+ 16.Re5 17.Re1 18.Re7 19.R1xe4 20.Re8+ 21.R4e7+ Ncd6? Qf6 Nxf6 Kf8 Kg8 Nfe4 f6 Nf5 Nxh6 Kg7 Nf7

22... Rg7? 23.Qf6 Ne2+ 24.Rxe2 Qe1+ 25.Rxe1 Rxg6 26.Qxg6+ Kf8 27.Re8#. 23.Rg5! +-. 20.Kf1 Qf4 21.Qxf4 Nxf4 22.Rd4 Ne6 23.Nxe6 dxe6 24.Bxf8 Kxf8 25.Rc1 +/= .

Giuoco Piano Attacking with 4.c3 Richard Westbrook, 2006. 14... 15.Qd3 h6 16.Nf3 Qc7 17.Be3 Nc4 18.Rfe1 Ne5 19.Qd5+ Kh7 20.Nxe5 dxe5 21.Bc5 d6 22.Bxd6 Rd8 23.Bxc7 Rxd5 24.Bxe5 with a drawish position. Back to the main line! After 9.d5! Bf6! c6

If 14... Bxh4? 15.Nxh4 Qxh4 16.g5 Qh3 17.gxh6 gxh6!? 18.Re3 Qh4 19.Rg3+ Kh8 20.b4! The knight is lost! After, 20... Nc4 21.Bxc4 Qxc4 ?? 22.Qh5 White wins quickly. 15.g5 cxd5 16.Re1 hxg5 17.hxg5 Be7 18.Qa4 Nc6!? (better is ...Nc4) 19.Qh4 g6 20.Kg2 Qd7 21.Kg3 (to guard g4) f5 22.Rh1 Kf7 23.Qh7+ Ke8 24.Qxg6+ Kd8 25.Bf4 +/=. 11.Rxe4 d6

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwqk+-tr0 7zppzpp+pzpp0 6-+n+-+-+0 5+-+P+-+-0 4-+L+n+-+0 3+-vl-+N+-0 2PzP-+-zPPzP0 1tR-vLQ+RmK-0 xabcdefghy
10.Re1 Ne7!

Castling now is risky for Black: 10... 0 0?! 11.Rxe4 Na5!? 12.Bd3 d6 13.g4! This thrust is thematic in these kinds of positions! 13... h6 14.h4!

Again, Black must be careful about castling! 11... 0 0!? 12.d6! cxd6 is unclear. But not, 12... Ng6? 13.Qe2! followed by Bxf7+ etc. 12.Bg5 13.Nxg5 Bxg5

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwq-trk+0 7zppzp-+pzp-0 6-+-zp-vl-zp0 5sn-+P+-+-0 4-+-+R+PzP0 3+-+L+N+-0 2PzP-+-zP-+0 1tR-vLQ+-mK-0 xabcdefghy

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwqk+-tr0 7zppzp-snpzpp0 6-+-zp-+-+0 5+-+P+-sN-0 4-+L+R+-+0 3+-+-+-+-0 2PzP-+-zPPzP0 1tR-+Q+-mK-0 xabcdefghy

Giuoco Piano Attacking with 4.c3 Richard Westbrook, 2006. We have reached an important position! Black has only two significant moves: 13...0 0 and 13...h6. The modern move is 13... 14.Qe2! h6! 23.Qh8+ 24.Qg7+ 25.Qd7+ 26.Rc1+ +-. Ke7 Kd6 Kc5

White can try an interesting sacrifice, but Black has an adequate defense: 14.Nxf7?! Kxf7 15.Qf3+ Nf5! Not 15... Kg8? 16.Rae1 Qf8 (16...Ng6? 17.Re8+!) 17.Qc3 Bf5 18.Rxe7 +-. 16.g4 17.gxf5 =/+. 14... 15.Re1 Qf6 (16...Rf8 17.gxf5 Kg8)

22.Qb3 White's pressure is compensation for the pawn. In the main line, the traditional move is 13... 0 0, but this allows -

hxg5 Be6

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+lwq-trk+0 7zppzp-snpzpp0 6-+-zp-+-+0 5+-+P+-sN-0 4-+L+R+-+0 3+-+-+-+-0 2PzP-+-zPPzP0 1tR-+Q+-mK-0 xabcdefghy
14.Nxh7!

Black must close the e-file! If 15... 0 0? 16.Rxe7! +/-. 16.dxe6 17.Re3 17... 18.Qh5! 19.Qh6 20.Rh3!! 21.Re3! 22.Qxg6+ 23.Rxh3 24.Qh7# 18.Rh3! 19.gxh3 20.Qf3! 21.Qc3! Not 21... 22.Bxd5 f6 d5 0 0?? g6 g4 gxh3 Nf5 Ng7 Qe7

Other moves for White are insufficient! 14... 15.Qh5+ 16.Rh4 Kxh7 Kg8 f5

Black can also play ...f6, but should fight for space at every opportunity! 17.Qh7+ Kf7 18.Rh6 (stops ...Ng6) Rg8 The only reasonable move. 19.Re1 Kf8 If 19... Qf8 20.Bb5 threatens Ree6, which wins instantly. 20...Rh8 21.Qxh8 gxh6 22.Qh7+ Kf6 23.Rxe7 Qxe7 24.Qxh6+ leads to perpetual check.

Rxh3 g6 f5 d4 Nc6?? Qxd5

10

Giuoco Piano Attacking with 4.c3 Richard Westbrook, 2006. 20.Rh3 21.Rhe3 Bd7 35.dxc6 36.Bc4 37.Bd3 38.gxf5 bxc6 d5 Rh6 Ng8

White threatens 22.Rxe7 Qxe7 23.Rxe7 Kxe7 24.Qg6 +/= 21... Nc8 22.Bd3 g6 Not 22... Nb6?? 23.Bxf5 Destroying the cover in front of the king; Black will lose. 23... Bxf5 24.Qxf5+ Qf6 25.Qh5 etc. 23.h4 (f4) Rg7 24.Qh8+ Rg8 25.Qh6+! Kf7!? 26.h5! Qf6 27.Re6!! (27.Qh7+ Rg7 28.Qh8=) Bxe6 28.Rxe6 Qg7 29.Qg5 +-. White threatens 30.Bxf5, demolishing Black s position. If instead of 28Qg7,

White has the advantage, but it is difficult to find a win. For example, 39.Qg3! Re7 40.Qf2 Rh3 41.Qd4+ Nf6 42.Kg2 Rhe3 43.b4 Re1 44.Qc5 R1e3 45.a3 Nh5 46.Qd4+ Nf6 47.Kf2 Rh3 48.a4 Rh2+ 49.Kf3 Rh3+ 50.Kg2 Rhe3 51.a5 Re1 52.Qc5 R1e3 53.Kf2 Kf8 54.Qd4 Kg7 55.a6 Re1 56.Qc5 R1e3 57.Qd6. . At move 13, where Black must decide whether to castle or play h6, inexperienced players often err with 13...Bf5? Now,

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+-wqk+-tr0 7zppzp-snpzpp0 6-+-zp-+-+0 5+-+P+lsN-0 4-+L+R+-+0 3+-+-+-+-0 2PzP-+-zPPzP0 1tR-+Q+-mK-0 xabcdefghy
14.Qf3! Bg6

XIIIIIIIIY 8r+n+-+r+0 7zppzp-+k+-0 6-+-zpRwqpwQ0 5+-+P+p+P0 4-+-+-+-+0 3+-+L+-+-0 2PzP-+-zPP+0 1+-+-+-mK-0 xabcdefghy
28... 29.Rxf6+ 30.g4 31.f4 32.Qg5+ 33.hxg6+ 34.Bb5 Ne7 Kxf6 Rae8 Rh8 Kf7 Kg7 (33...Nxg6?? 34.Qxf5+!) c6

If 14... Qd7 15.Bb5! c6 16.dxc6 bxc6 17.Bxc6 Qxc6 18.Qxf5 with an overwhelming position. 18... Qd7!? 19.Qxf7+ Kd8 20.Ne6+ Kc8 21.Nf8!! Rxf8 (21...Qc7?? 22.Rxe7 with checkmate in a few moves.) 15.Rae1 16.Bb5+ 17.dxc6 Not 17... h6 c6 0 0 bxc6??

11

Giuoco Piano Attacking with 4.c3 Richard Westbrook, 2006. 18.Rxe7+ 19.Qxc6+ 20.Qxa8+ 21.Qxa7+ 22.Rxe7 23.Qc7#. Sample games Greco - NN Europe, 1620 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 Bb6? 6.dxe5 Nxe4?? 7.Qd5 1 0. White wins a piece! Greco - NN Europe, 1620 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb6? 7.e5 Ng8 8.d5 Nce7 9.d6 Nc6 10.Qd5 Nh6 11.Bxh6 Rf8 12.Bxg7 Nb4 13.Qd2 [Slightly stronger is 13.Qe4.] 13... Rg8 14.Bf6 1 0. Greco - NN Europe, 1620 1.e4 2.Nf3 3.Bc4 4.c3 5.d4 6.cxd4 7.Nc3 Qxe7 Kd8 Kc7 Kc8 hxg5 8.0 0 9.bxc3 10.Qb3 11.Bxf7+ 12.Bg5? Nxc3 Bxc3 Bxd4? Kf8

Correct is 12.Bh5! d5 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Qb4+ winning a piece and the game. 12... 13.Rae1 14.Bh5 15.Ne5 +Bf6 Ne7 Ng6? [14...d5! =] Nxe5?

Even if 15...d5! 16.Bxg6 hxg6 17.Nxg6+ +-. 16.Rxe5 17.Bh6+ 18.Rf5+! 18... 19.Rxf6+ 20.Qf7+ 21.Re1 g6 Bg7 gxf5 Qf6 Ke7 Kd8

Or, 21.Bg5 Bh6 22.Qf8+! Rxf8 23.Rxf8#. 21... 22.Qe7+ 23.Bf4#. 19.Qf7# c5 Kc7 1 0.

e5 Nc6 Bc5 Nf6 exd4 Bb4+ Nxe4

Howell, C - Michell, R ENG-USA cable match (9), 1907 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.0 0 Bxc3 9.d5 Bf6 10.Re1 Ne7 11.Rxe4 d6 12.Bg5 Bxg5 13.Nxg5 Bf5?? 14.Qf3! +- 14...Qd7 15.Bb5 Qxb5 16.Qxf5 f6 17.Rae1 fxg5 18.Rxe7+ Kd8 19.Qxg5 Kc8 20.Qg4+ Kd8 21.a4 1 0.

12