Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation, Kantscher Line
- 1.e4c5
- 2.Nf3d6
- 3.d4cxd4
- 4.Nxd4Nf6
- 5.Nc3Nc6
- 6.Bg5e6
- 7.Qd2Be7
- 8.O-O-ONxd4
- 9.Qxd4a6
- 10.f4b5
12 games
A rare Classical Richter-Rauzer line where Black delays castling and expands at once with ...a6 and ...b5 against White's queenside-castled king.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Kantscher Line
The Kantscher Line is the branch of the Classical Richter-Rauzer in which Black postpones castling, exchanging on d4 with 8...Nxd4 and following 9. Qxd4 a6 10. f4 b5 with an immediate queenside pawn advance aimed at the castled white king. The cost is a king left in the center. White most often answers 11. Bxf6, removing a defender of Black's position, while 11. e5 is less common. The engine rates White slightly better, and the line is rarely seen.