Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. c3/3...d5
| Ponziani Opening | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3.d5
[edit | edit source]This move takes advantage of White playing c3. After the natural exd5?! Qxd5, White cannot play the usual Nc3 attacking the queen as the c3-square is occupied by the pawn.
Because of this, White's best option is 4. Qa4, pinning the c6-knight and threatening Nxe5 next move. This is the theoretically best response to the Ponziani Opening, scoring the best in databases and being most chess engines' preferred move. It is also the second most common response to the Ponziani by masters, behind the Jaenisch Counterattack with 3. Nf6.
Theory Table
[edit | edit source]1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d5
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qa4
f6 |
d3
Be6 |
Be2
Bd6 |
exd5
Bxd5 |
|
| = | ||||
| Bb5
dxe4 |
Nxe5
Qg5 |
Qa4
Qxg2 |
Rf1
Qxg2 |
|
| -+ | ||||
| d3
Nf6 |
Nbd2
a5 |
Be2
Bd6 |
O-O
O-O |
|
| = |