Two lines from our repertoire
Follow each line from the starting position. The notes explain the position after the displayed move, including the plan for the next move. These are repertoire examples; your opponent can choose other replies.
Pause at the diagrams to see the idea. The highlighted squares show the last move; the note explains what comes next.
Moves use international algebraic notation: N = knight, B = bishop, R = rook, Q = queen, K = king.
1. Typical King's Attack (1)
1. e41... e5After 1... e5We play ♞g1-f3, developing a piece while also attacking ♟e5
2. Nf32... Nc6After 2... Nc6We play ♞b1-c3, focusing on knight development, not rushing bishops or central control
3. Nc33... Nf6After 3... Nf6Starting position from the "Four Knights Defense." The main move is developing ♝f1-b5 with a plan to castle, but we choose the sneaky ♟a2-a3, preventing ♝f8-b4 and giving room for error
4. a3
After 4... Bc5White to move. At the board4... Bc5After 4... Bc5Here, Black falls into our trap with the most logical move. We sacrifice the knight — ♞f3xe5, exploiting Black's uncoordinated pieces. The idea is to play ♟d2-d4 and regain the piece while seizing the center for a favorable position
5. Nxe55... Nxe5After 5... Nxe5We play ♟d2-d4, skewering Black's pieces
6. d46... Bxd4After 6... Bxd4Taking ♝c5xd4 is also imprecise, letting us place the ♛ with tempo in the center + gaining the advantage of the two bishops. We take back the bishop — ♛d1xd4!
7. Qxd47... Nc6After 7... Nc6White has several good retreats, but let's go with ♛d4-d3, keeping the option for long castling. Sure, it slightly blocks ♝f1, but we'll develop it with ♝f1-e2
8. Qd3After 8... O-OWhite to move. At the board8... O-OAfter 8... O-OYou should understand: White has the two-bishop advantage, central ♟e4, spatial dominance. All signs point to 0-0-0 and preparing an attack on the kingside
9. Bg59... h6After 9... h6Of course, don't trade, retreat ♝g5-h4, maintaining pressure on the pin
10. Bh410... d6After 10... d6Long castle, putting the ♚ in a safe spot before launching the kingside offensive. White's plan is simple: ♟f2-f4, ♝f1-e2, ♟h2-h3, ♟g2-g4 with ♟g4-g5, using ♟h6 as a hook for the attack
11. O-O-O11... Re8After 11... Re8We play ♟f2-f4, seizing space and preventing Black's ♞c6-e5 jump
12. f412... Bg4After 12... Bg4We play ♝f1-e2, trading off the active ♝g4
13. Be213... Bxe2After 13... Bxe2Capture back the bishop — ♛d3xe2, securing ♟g2's path to g4
After 14. Qxe2Black to move. At the board14. Qxe2After 14. Qxe2White's position is close to winning. Just organize the advance ♟g2-g4-g5, using the pin with ♞c3-d5
2. Typical King Attack (2)
1. e41... e5After 1... e5We play ♞g1-f3, developing a piece and attacking ♟e5 at the same time
2. Nf32... Nc6After 2... Nc6We play ♞b1-c3, focusing on knight development while not rushing to develop bishops and control the center
3. Nc33... Nf6After 3... Nf6Starting position of the "Four Knights Defense." The main move is developing ♝f1-b5 with a planned castle, but we choose a very tricky move ♟a2-a3, depriving Black of ♝f8-b4 development, while also inviting a mistake
4. a3After 4... Bc5White to move. At the board4... Bc5After 4... Bc5And here, having chosen the most logical move, Black falls into our trap. We sacrifice the knight — ♞f3xe5, taking advantage of the poor position of Black's minor pieces. The idea of the sacrifice is to play ♟d2-d4 and immediately regain the piece by controlling the center, obtaining a favorable position
5. Nxe55... Nxe5After 5... Nxe5We play ♟d2-d4, setting Black's pieces up for a fork
6. d46... Bxd4After 6... Bxd4The tempting capture ♝c5xd4 also turns out to be inaccurate, allowing us to place the ♛ in the center with tempo + giving White the advantage of two bishops. We take back the bishop — ♛d1xd4!
7. Qxd47... d6After 7... d6If Black decides to support ♞e5, we DON'T rush with the attack ♟f2-f4. Such pawn moves "f" at the start are very dangerous as they require proper preparation and usually having the ♚ in a safe place. So we play ♝c1-f4, focusing on development
8. Bf4After 8... Nc6White to move. At the board8... Nc6After 8... Nc6We retreat ♛d4-d2, keeping the option for 0-0-0, while connecting the ♛ and ♝ for potential diagonal work
9. Qd29... O-OAfter 9... O-OLet's castle, chess fans!
10. O-O-O10... Re8After 10... Re8What's the opponent up to? — To take our pawn — ♞f6xe4. For this reason, we reinforce — ♟f2-f3, creating a solid pawn chain
11. f311... Be6After 11... Be6What do we have? Opposite-side castling, the advantage of two ♝, and spatial superiority due to the powerful ♟e4. All these arguments tip the scale in favor of a ♟ attack on the kingside. We play ♟g2-g4, grabbing space, slowly "suffocating Black"
12. g412... a6After 12... a6In case of Black's clearly slow advance on the opposite flank — we play ♟h2-h4, continuing to pursue our strategy
13. h413... b5After 13... b5What do we do: ♟h4-h5 or the neat attack ♟g4-g5? We want to first take away the h5 square from ♞f6 to prevent it from blocking our pawns. We play ♟h4-h5, with ♟g4-g5 in mind for the next move!
After 14. h5Black to move. At the board14. h5After 14. h5White has a significant advantage and serious grounds to play for a win!
Original commentary from Theoria’s opening lessons, prepared by FIDE Master Maksims Golubovskis.
Put the idea on the board
Open this opening in the trainer to study and practise its lines. Start with one line, explain the purpose of each move, then try to recall it without hints.