Theoria
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Italian Game

Hungarian Defense, Tartakower Variation

C50gambittacticaloffbeat

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.Bc4Be7
  4. 4.d4exd4
  5. 5.c3Nf6
  6. 6.e5Ne4
671 games46%50%

A Hungarian Defense line in which Black answers the 5. c3 gambit with ...Nf6 and ...Ne4, keeping the extra pawn while White seeks compensation.

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About the Tartakower Variation

The Tartakower Variation meets the 5. c3 gambit with 5...Nf6, which counterattacks e4 instead of taking a second pawn. After 6. e5 the knight jumps to e4, and Black holds on to the extra pawn on d4. The usual reply is 7. cxd4. The engine prefers 7. Bd5, which hits the knight. After 7...Nc5 8. cxd4 Ne6 9. Bb3, a line analyzed by Evans, Unzicker judged White better. Engines give White a slight edge, although Black scores well in online games.

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