17. Albin Counter-Gambit (4.Nf3 and 5.g3, Avoiding the Lasker Trap)

Black sacrifices a pawn to plant a wedge on d4. The correct answer is 4.Nf3 followed by the fianchetto: 4.e3? falls into the Lasker trap.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.g3 Be6 6.Nbd2 Qd7 7.Bg2 O-O-O 8.O-O

Move by move

1.d4 – White takes the center with the queen's pawn, already defended by the Queen, and opens the diagonal for the c1 Bishop. The repertoire plan is c4 next move to attack Black's d5 pawn at once.
1...d5 – Black answers symmetrically: the d5 pawn prevents e4 and contests the center. White can now hit it from the side with the c-pawn.
2.c4 – The Queen's Gambit attacks d5 with a flank pawn. It is not a real sacrifice: after 2...dxc4 White regains the pawn with e3 and Bxc4, or takes the center with e4.
2...e5 – Albin Counter-Gambit: Black offers the e-pawn to create a wedge on d4 and develop quickly. It is a sharp but risky opening for Black.
3.dxe5 – White accepts the pawn. It is the best answer: the e5 pawn will be defended with Nf3 and Bf4.
3...d4 – The pawn advances to d4 and creates a wedge: it takes the c3 and e3 squares away from the white pieces.
4.Nf3 – The right move: the Knight develops, attacks d4 and defends e5. It avoids 4.e3?, which leads to the Lasker trap.
4...Nc6 – The Knight defends the d4 wedge and attacks the e5 pawn. Black wants to recover the sacrificed pawn or at least stop White from consolidating it.
5.g3 – White prepares the Bg2 fianchetto, which from the long diagonal will hit Black's queenside and future long castling.
5...Be6 – The Bishop attacks c4 and prepares ...Qd7 and ...O-O-O. Black wants an attack on the kingside.
6.Nbd2 – The Knight defends c4 and prepares Nb3 to attack d4. It does not go to c3 because that square is controlled by the d4 pawn.
6...Qd7 – The Queen develops and prepares ...O-O-O and ...Bh3 to exchange the g2 Bishop.
7.Bg2 – The Bishop completes the fianchetto and aims toward b7: after Black's long castling it will be an attacking piece.
7...O-O-O – Black castles long: the d8 Rook supports d4 and the King prepares for an attack on the kingside.
8.O-O – The King goes to safety. White prepares Qa4, b4 and Nb3 to attack Black's long castled position.

How to exploit the position

White has an extra pawn and a strong g2 Bishop; Black has the d4 wedge and long castling ready for the attack.

Attack the long castled position with Qa4, b4-b5 and Nb3.
The d2 Knight goes to b3 to attack d4 and exchange the wedge.
Keep the e5 pawn defended with Bf4 and Qc2: it is the extra pawn.
Black wants ...Bh3 to exchange the g2 Bishop and ...h5-h4: answer with the faster attack on the queenside.

Master tips

The Lasker Trap

Do not play 4.e3?: after 4...Bb4+ 5.Bd2 dxe3! 6.Bxb4?? exf2+ 7.Ke2 fxg1=N+! White loses material.