5. Geller Gambit (5.e4 b5): keeping the pawn
After 5.e4 b5 6.e5 Nd5 7.a4 e6 8.axb5 Nxc3 9.bxc3 cxb5 Black has an extra pawn and two passed pawns; White attacks with Ng5 and the Queen, but ...Bb7, ...g6 and ...Be7 hold everything.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 b5 6.e5 Nd5 7.a4 e6 8.axb5 Nxc3 9.bxc3 cxb5 10.Ng5 Bb7 11.Qh5 g6 12.Qg4 Be7
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...dxc4 – Black takes the c4 pawn, which White has not yet protected with e3: it now threatens to keep it with ...b5.
- 5.e4 – The Geller Gambit: instead of immediately recovering the c4 pawn, White occupies the center with e4, letting Black hold it with ...b5.
- 5...b5 – Black defends the c4 pawn: White has the center and the tempo, Black an extra pawn on the queenside.
- 6.e5 – White drives the f6 Knight from its ideal square and gains space toward the kingside.
- 6...Nd5 – The Knight settles on d5: it blocks the d4 pawn and attacks c3, which cannot be defended by a pawn.
- 7.a4 – White attacks the b5-c4 chain: if the b5 pawn falls, the c4 pawn is left isolated.
- 7...e6 – Black protects the d5 Knight and opens the f8 Bishop, which after axb5 will be able to defend the c4 pawn.
- 8.axb5 – White captures on b5: now the c6 pawn is attacked and the a-file opens for the a1 Rook.
- 8...Nxc3 – Black exchanges the c3 Knight, which was attacking d5, and ruins the White structure: the b-pawn must go to c3.
- 9.bxc3 – White recaptures toward the center: the c3 pawn protects d4, but the a2 pawn is already gone and c3 will remain weak.
- 9...cxb5 – Black recaptures the pawn and keeps the b5-c4 chain: it has an extra pawn and two passed pawns on the queenside.
- 10.Ng5 – The Knight heads for the kingside: it threatens Qh5 with an attack on f7 and h7, where Black has no defenders.
- 10...Bb7 – The Bishop develops on the long diagonal toward g2 and frees the eighth rank: the a8 Rook defends the a7 pawn, attacked by the a1 Rook.
- 11.Qh5 – The Queen attacks f7 together with the g5 Knight: Black must defend with a pawn.
- 11...g6 – Black blocks the h5-f7 diagonal and drives away the Queen; the f6 square is weakened, but the King stays covered.
- 12.Qg4 – The Queen retreats to g4, where it attacks e6 together with the g5 Knight and stays close to the Black King.
- 12...Be7 – The Bishop attacks the g5 Knight and prepares castling: Black completes development while keeping the extra pawn.
How to exploit the position
Black has an extra pawn and the passed pawns b5 and c4; White has space with e5 and some initiative on the kingside.
- Eliminate the g5 Knight with ...Bxg5 if it becomes dangerous: without it the Queen on g4 alone is not enough against e6, defended by f7.
- The Black Queen can go to d5, where it blocks the d4 pawn and eyes g2 together with the b7 Bishop.
- With ...Nd7 complete development; ...h5 drives away the g4 Queen when needed.
- In the long term push the b and c pawns: in the endgame two connected passed pawns decide the game.
Master tips
Defending the c4 pawn
In the Geller Gambit Black keeps the extra pawn with the b5-c4 chain: if the b5 pawn falls, c4 becomes weak.