In this post, we look at move 3 options for black after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4.
The most common responses are Bc5 and Nc6, the Giuoco Piano and the Two Knights Defense, respectively. Significant less common are Be7, the Hungarian Defense, and d6, the Paris Defense. We also consider Nd5 and h6 below.
Black Plays Nd5
3. … Nd5?! is the famous Blackburne Shilling Gambit. 4. Nxe5? is a serious mistake. Black should respond with 4. … Qg5!
Oh boy! White is in trouble now. Black is attacking the e5 knight and the g2 pawn. c3, f4, Nxf7, and Nf3 fail to 5. … Qxg2. 5. Ng4 fails to 5. … d5! when black wins a piece.
The best move for white is 5. Bxf7+. The main line is 5. … Kd8 6. O-O Qxe5 7. c3.
An often cited line after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4?! is 4. Nxd4 exd4. However, black wastes time by playing 3. … Nd4?! and then white takes a tempo to play 4. Nxd4. It doesn’t seem that white obtains any kind of advantage from playing 4. Nxd4 compared with the alternatives below.
The primary drawback of 3. … Nd4?! is that it uses an entire tempo to move the knight a second time. Since black is wasting time, white should consider moves that make the most effective use of time. Thus, 4. c3 and 4. O-O are more logical than 4. Nxd4 in a general sense.
However, everything is a tradeoff. 3. … Nd4?! has at least two points of note. First, it will encourage the exchange of a piece, which will tend to free up black’s game. Secondly, it allows the advance of the c7 pawn, which could be of benefit for controlling the center.
Other advantages of 3. … Nd4?! are more nebulous. This has surprise value. And there is a chance that white might respond with 4. Nxe5? But these points are not so logical, and shouldn’t be a basis for the development of one’s opening repertoire.
Black Plays h6
3. … h6 is played out of an irrational fear of 3. … Nf6 4. Ng5. There’s no need to get too creative to take advantage of such a move. Black is wasting time. So the logical option is to make a move that makes optimal use of time. Both 4. d4 and 4. O-O are quite reasonable.
3. … h6 4. d4 d6 5. Nc3 Bg5 6. dxe5 Nxe5?? 7. Nxe5! Bxd1??? 8. Bxf7+ Ke7 9. Nd5# is quite famous. This mating pattern is known as Legal’s Mate.
Black Plays d6
3. … d6 is the the Paris Defense. The most common responses for black in ascending frequency are Nc3, O-O, c3, and d4. There are two key points to consider with 3. … d6. First, this move limits the scope of the f8 bishop. Secondly, black generally aspires to play d5 if it can be done without significant drawbacks. By playing d6 so early, it will require two moves to play d5 if black has the opportunity.
3. … d6 4. Nc3
3. … d6 4. Nc3 occurs via a variety of move orders, most commonly 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 d6 4. Bc4 and 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 d6 4. Nc3. From a strict taxonomy perspective, it is preferable to give precedence to Nc3 versus Bc4 since knight moves are generally more flexible than bishop moves.
Additionally, Nc3 blocks the advance c2-c3, which is a notable positional characteristic. So for my purposes, I’m going to consider 3. … d6 4. Nc3 to be a variation of the Three Knights Game based on the move order 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 d6 4. Bc4 and not the Paris Defense.
This leaves three primary alternatives: deferring any pawn advances with 4. O-O, preparing d4 with 4. c3, or immediately challenging the center with 4. d4.
3. … d6 4. d4
3. … d6 4. d4 and most common are Bg4, exd4, and Be7.
Note that 4. … Nf6? is a mistake due to 5. Ng5.
4. … exd4 is inconsistent with having played 3. … d6 since an early d6 suggests that black is playing to maintain a pawn at e5. Black has already limited the scope of the f8 bishop and committed to playing d5 in two moves. To then surrender the center with exd4 is a further concession.
4. … Be7 transposes to the Hungarian Defense {1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Be7 4. d4 d6}
4. … Bg4 is the logical follow-up to 3. … d6. Black maintains the strong point at e5. The Bishop pins the f3 knight, further strengthening black’s hold on the e5 square.