The Albin Counter Gambit: Morozevich-Mengarini Variation

By Michael Goeller

Site:
http://www.kenilworthchessclub.org/games/java/summer05/albin-
nge7.htm

The Albin Counter Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5!?) has been played and written about since
it was first popularized by Adolf Albin in the 1890s. Recent use of the countergambit by
GMs Morozevich and Nakamura has revived interest of late. During the early years of
the gambit, White players tried a number of ideas until they hit upon the King's Bishop
fianchetto with 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.g3, which remains a popular approach. Black
usually responds then 5...Bg4, 5...Be6, or (most interestingly) 5...Bf5!? -- but recent
attention has focused on Morozevich's 5...Nge7!? (a move first used by Frank James
Marshall and then by Ariel Mengarini ).

With Black doing well with a variety of answers to 5.g3, attention has shifted to
5.Nbd2! which has been recomended (e.g.: by Eric Schiller and Angus Dunnington) as
the easiest anti-Albin line, but few sources discuss the Morozevich and Nakamura
response of 5...Nge7, which may now be one of the most important theoretical lines for
the evaluation of the Albin as a whole. Those that do discuss this line at all give 6.Nb3
Nf5 7.e4 dxe3 8.Qxd8+ Nxd8 (8...Kxd8 9.Bxe3! Nxe3 10.fxe3 += Bilguer!) 9.fxe3 +=
with an endgame edge for White as proven in several games. Yet no GM has tried this
widely accepted "refutation" against Morozevich or Nakamura! One can only guess that
they assume the two are fully computer-prepped, and that the doubled e-pawns on an
open file are a significant long-term weakness. My own analysis of these lines is far
from conclusive and I do not feel confident in Black's chances.

The following three games present 5...Nge7, which I think should be called the
"Morozevich-Mengarini Variation," against White's three main 5th moves: 5.Nbd2,
5.g3, and 5.a3. It is also playable against other White fifth moves, including 5.Bf4 (as
discussed by McGrew), but these are the three critical lines. Readers who wish to learn
more about the Albin are urged to do their own research and analysis. Appended to this
article is a complete bibliography of recent sources and a complete PGN file of my
analysis that should be helpful to your work.

Game One: 5.Nbd2 Nge7

Ivan Sokolov (2685) - Alexander Morozevich (2741) [D08]

Corus/Wijk aan Zee (9) 2005

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 Nge7

This move may well be best, especially since the alternatives are not so promising: