Theoria
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Italian Game

Evans Gambit, Morphy Attack

C51gambitaggressivetactical

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.Bc4Bc5
  4. 4.b4Bxb4
  5. 5.c3Ba5
  6. 6.d4exd4
  7. 7.O-Od6
  8. 8.cxd4Bb6
  9. 9.Nc3
276 games46%51%

An Evans Gambit line in which White, a pawn down, develops with 9. Nc3 behind a d4–e4 pawn center; play is double-edged and roughly balanced.

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About the Morphy Attack

The Morphy Attack arises from the Pierce Defense line 6...exd4 7. O-O d6 8. cxd4 Bb6. White then develops with 9. Nc3, keeping the broad d4–e4 center as compensation for the gambit pawn. Black usually answers 9...Bg4, pinning the f3-knight and adding indirect pressure on d4. It is by far the most played reply and scores well for Black. The main alternatives are 9...Nf6 and 9...h6, and the engine considers the position roughly balanced.

Popular continuations