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Italian Game

Evans Gambit, Lasker Defense

C52gambittactical

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.Bc4Bc5
  4. 4.b4Bxb4
  5. 5.c3Ba5
  6. 6.O-Od6
  7. 7.d4Bb6
230 games45%52%

Evans Gambit line in which Black meets 6. O-O d6 7. d4 by retreating 7...Bb6, keeping the extra pawn; Black scores well in a roughly balanced position.

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About the Lasker Defense

The Lasker Defense arises from the Slow Variation of the Evans Gambit. After 6. O-O d6 7. d4, Black withdraws the bishop with 7...Bb6. This keeps the extra pawn and moves the bishop from a5 to the a7–g1 diagonal, where it bears on d4. The most common reply is 8. dxe5, ahead of 8. Qb3 and 8. Ng5, which has scored poorly for White. Black scores well overall, and the engine rates the position as roughly balanced.

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