Albin Countergambit

The Albin Countergambit is a chess opening that begins with the moves:

1. d4 d5
2. c4 e5
Albin Countergambit
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
d5 black pawn
e5 black pawn
c4 white pawn
d4 white pawn
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
e2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
g1 white knight
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Moves1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5
ECOD08–D09
OriginSalvioli vs. Cavallotti, Milan 1881
Named afterAdolf Albin
ParentQueen's Gambit

and the usual continuation is:

3. dxe5 d4

The opening is a gambit and an uncommon response to the Queen's Gambit. In exchange for the sacrificed pawn, Black has a central wedge at d4 and gets some chances for an attack. Often White will try to return the pawn at an opportune moment to gain a positional advantage.

In the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings the Albin Countergambit is assigned codes D08 and D09.

History

Although this opening was originally played by Cavallotti against Salvioli at the Milan tournament of 1881,[1] it takes its name from Adolf Albin, who played it against Emanuel Lasker in New York 1893. Though it is not played frequently at the master level, Russian grandmaster Alexander Morozevich made some successful use of it in the 2000s.[2]

Main line

abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
c6 black knight
e5 white pawn
c4 white pawn
d4 black pawn
f3 white knight
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
e2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Main line: 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6

The main line continues 4.Nf3 Nc6 (4...c5 allows 5.e3 because Black no longer has the bishop check) and now White's primary options are 5.a3, 5.Nbd2, and 5.g3. Perhaps White's surest try for an advantage is to fianchetto their king bishop with 5.g3 followed by Bg2 and Nbd2. Black will often castle queenside. A typical continuation is 5.g3 Be6 6.Nbd2 Qd7 7.Bg2 0-0-0 8.0-0 Bh3.

Variations

Lasker Trap

The black pawn on d4 is stronger than it may appear. After 3.dxe5 d4 the careless move 4.e3? can lead to the Lasker Trap. After 4...Bb4+ 5.Bd2 dxe3!! (sacrificing the bishop) 6.Bxb4?? is a blunderBlack continues with 6...exf2+! 7.Ke2 (7.Kxf2 does not work because of 7...Qxd1) 7...fxg1=N+! 8.Rxg1 Bg4+! and Black wins the queen with a winning position. The Lasker Trap is notable because it features a rare instance of an underpromotion in practical play.

Spassky Variation

In the Spassky Variation, White avoids the Lasker Trap by advancing 4.e4. Although Black can capture en passant with 4...dxe3, the Lasker Trap depends on Black capturing the e-pawn after 4...Bb4+ 5.Bd2, which is not possible here. According to Minev, after 4.e4? Nc6! Black will have the better game.[3]

See also

References

  1. "Carlo Salvioli vs. Mattia Cavallotti, Milan 1881". Chessgames.com.
  2. "Albin Counter-Gambit". Chess.com. April 28, 2011.
  3. Krnić, Zdenko, ed. (1998). Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings. Vol. D (3nd ed.). Yugoslavia: Chess Informant. p. 38, n. 4. ISBN 86-7297-040-3.

Bibliography

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