Theoria
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Italian Game

Two Knights Defense, Maróczy Variation

C58gambitpositional

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.Bc4Nf6
  4. 4.Ng5d5
  5. 5.exd5Na5
  6. 6.d3h6
  7. 7.Nf3e4
  8. 8.Qe2Nxc4
  9. 9.dxc4Be7

No game statistics for this position yet.

Two Knights Defense line where White answers 5...Na5 with 6. d3, keeping an extra pawn at the cost of the c4-bishop and doubled c-pawns.

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About the Maróczy Variation

The Maróczy Variation comes from the Polerio Defense when White meets 5...Na5 with 6. d3 rather than 6. Bb5+, holding on to the d5-pawn. Black gains time with 6...h6 7. Nf3 e4, forcing 8. Qe2. Black then removes the Italian bishop with 8...Nxc4 9. dxc4 and develops with 9...Be7. White remains a pawn up but has doubled c-pawns, while Black's e4-pawn gains space and harasses the f3-knight. Some sources call the sequence through 9. dxc4 the Morphy Variation.

Popular continuations

No continuations known for this position yet.