13. Anti-Moscow Gambit: 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5
White declines the exchange on f6 and leaves the c4 pawn. Black breaks the pin with ...g5, defends c4 with ...b5 and completes development; after 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 the g7 Bishop presses on d4.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.O-O Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7 12.Nxd7 Nxd7
Move by move
- 1.d4 – White opens with the Queen's pawn: it occupies d4, controls e5 and c5 and prepares c4 to put pressure on the Black center.
- 1...d5 – Black answers symmetrically: the d5 pawn prevents e4 and claims its share of the center.
- 2.c4 – The Queen's Gambit: the c4 pawn attacks d5 and threatens cxd5, to take away Black's control of e4.
- 2...c6 – The Slav Defense: c6 supports d5 without blocking the diagonal of the c8 Bishop, which can come out to f5 or g4 before ...e6.
- 3.Nf3 – The Knight comes out toward the center, controls e5 and protects d4; White keeps the choice open between Nc3, e3 and the Exchange Variation.
- 3...Nf6 – The Black Knight controls e4 and defends d5 a second time: White cannot push e4 without preparation.
- 4.Nc3 – The Knight increases the pressure on d5 and prepares e4; now ...dxc4 becomes a real threat, because c4 is not defended.
- 4...e6 – The Semi-Slav: with ...e6 the c6-d5-e6 triangle makes d5 rock solid and prepares ...dxc4 followed by ...b5. The price is the c8 Bishop, now shut in.
- 5.Bg5 – The Bishop pins the f6 Knight to the d8 Queen: White threatens to remove the control of e4 and d5.
- 5...h6 – Black immediately asks the Bishop to decide: the exchange on f6 gives Black the bishop pair, the retreat to h4 opens the sharp play of the Anti-Moscow.
- 6.Bh4 – The Anti-Moscow: White keeps the pin and leaves the c4 pawn to Black in exchange for the center and the initiative.
- 6...dxc4 – Black takes the offered pawn: White must now recover it or get compensation in the center.
- 7.e4 – White occupies the center: it threatens e5, which would attack the f6 Knight pinned to the Queen.
- 7...g5 – The pawn drives away the h4 Bishop and breaks the pin: the f6 Knight now attacks e4 without danger.
- 8.Bg3 – The Bishop retreats to g3, where it controls e5 and d6 and stays ready to support the push e5.
- 8...b5 – Black defends the c4 pawn: it has an extra pawn and a strong group of pawns on the queenside.
- 9.Be2 – The Bishop goes to e2 and protects the f3 Knight; White prepares castling.
- 9...Bb7 – The Bishop develops to b7 and prepares ...b4 or ...c5, which will open its diagonal against e4.
- 10.O-O – White castles and prepares Ne5, to exploit the square weakened by ...g5.
- 10...Nbd7 – The Knight goes to d7: it controls e5 and prepares the g7 Bishop.
- 11.Ne5 – The Knight jumps to e5, a square weakened by ...g5: it attacks c6 and d7 and prepares Bd6 against the Black King.
- 11...Bg7 – The Bishop goes to g7 on the long diagonal: it prepares castling and, after the exchange of Knights, will press on d4.
- 12.Nxd7 – White exchanges the d7 Knight to eliminate a defender of e5 and prepare Bd6.
- 12...Nxd7 – Black recaptures with the f6 Knight: now the g7 Bishop sees d4 and the d7 Knight can go to b6.
How to exploit the position
Black has an extra pawn and the pawns on the queenside; White has the center and the d6 square for the Bishop.
- If White plays Bd6 to prevent castling, answer with ...a6 and ...e5: the Black King can stay in the center or castle long.
- The break ...e5 or ...c5 attacks d4, already under fire from the g7 Bishop.
- The d7 Knight goes to b6 to protect c4 and control d5.
- Beware of the push a4 against b5: answer with ...a6 or with ...b4, do not leave the c4 pawn without support.
Master tips
The Bishop on d6
In the Anti-Moscow White uses the d6 square, weakened by ...e6 and ...g5, to place the Bishop and prevent short castling.