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joeyjojoshabadoo ♡ 33 ( +1 | -1 )
Thoughts on this opening? Hello,

I recently got the wind knocked out of me in the opening of a game. I clearly could have played this better, but would be grateful for thoughts on what I should have done. I am white:

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 Qf6
4. c3 Bc5
5. d4 exd4
6. e5 Nxe5
7. cxd4 Nxf3+
8. gxf3 Bxd4

At this point my head was spinning. Thanks for your thoughts...


punkusmartyrus ♡ 13 ( +1 | -1 )
maybe... if had taken out the knight first before launching d4 w/ 5.Bxc6 then it would have lead to a more managable middlegame.
schnarre ♡ 50 ( +1 | -1 )
Hmmmmnnn..... Black's offbeat reply is not without precedent. Morphy played a similar line that had 1...e5, 2...Nc6, 3...Bc5, 4...Qe7, 5...f6 & a few other odds & ends (Phil Sergeant's book "Morphy's Games of Chess" has this game, which Morphy won). Black's third move invites a later...0-0-0, which isn't usually seen in the Ruy Lopez, & gives Black flexibility in follow up moves. In your game, if I were White I would have played 4. Bxc6 with 5. Nc3 following. How did the rest of the game proceed?
alberlie ♡ 27 ( +1 | -1 )
No! First of all, castling would have been a good choice for white, at move 4 or five. But c3, d4 isn't so bad a choice either, only Nxe5 must be answered with Qe2! pinning the knight! 7. Qe2 dxc3 8. Qxe5 Qxe5 9. Nxe5 Ld4 10. Nd3

looks pretty nice for white.
joeyjojoshabadoo ♡ 55 ( +1 | -1 )
Taking out Knight seems good... Taking out the knight looks like a good idea in retrospect. Alberlie - I guess losing three pawns for a knight is fine, but looks like a pretty big gaping hole in the middle - what do you think?

I thought there might be a good way of taking better advantage of the queen out so early in this game. But maybe not. Schnarre - here is how the game continued (I got lucky a little later and won the game, but I was scrambling at the beginning). -> gameknot.com
alberlie ♡ 8 ( +1 | -1 )
I'd say the glass is half filled and the "big gaping hole" is good attacking oportunity... :o))
joeyjojoshabadoo ♡ 4 ( +1 | -1 )
Fair enough - thanks alberlie
schnarre ♡ 18 ( +1 | -1 )
joeyjojoshabadoo After 12...Qxg5 I don't see how Black lasted so long (givng up the Queen for no gain usually doesn't result in longevity gamewise). White's finish was elegant in it's execution. Good Job!
joeyjojoshabadoo ♡ 7 ( +1 | -1 )
Thanks Schnarre. Yeah, just got lucky with the Queen.
futile ♡ 78 ( +1 | -1 )
Several Options... you might have moved 6. Bg5 developing a piece (and not losing another pawn), forcing Black's Queen to move: 6. ... Qg6 then maybe 7. Bxc6 dxc6 8. 0-0 and your King is safely behind his stronghold. (Then if 8. ... dxc3?? 9. Qd8#)

Another option is 4. d3 opening up a line for your Bishop to attack Black's Queen (is there not a rule of openings that you shouldn't move your Queen out too early as she is then open to attack?). If your opponent moves his Queen out early you can gain quite a bit by attacking her with your pieces as you develop. Your opponent will be forced to keep moving the Queen and have little time to develop their own pieces.

However alberlie is correct, Qe2 pinning the knight is winning as far as I can tell.

Cheers,

futile