Archive for March 1st, 2010

The Albin Counter-Gambit by Dorian Rogozenco at ChessBase (from CBM #134) offers everything you need as White (including full games and analysis) to learn how to put the onus on Black in this line with 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Nbd2! (see diagram).  As I indicated in The Albin Counter-Gambit with Nge7: Morozevich-Mengarini Variation and Albin Counter Gambit Bibliography, 5.Nbd2 is definitely the most difficult move for Black to meet since it prepares to assail the d-pawn by Nb3 and allows White to meet the fashionable 5….Nge7 (preparing to defend by Nf5) with the forceful 6.Nb3 Nf5 7.e4! dxe3 (7…Nh4!? may be a better try) 8.Qxd8+ Nxd8 (8…Kxd8 9.Bxe3! Nxe3 10.fxe3 += Bilguer!) 9.fxe3 += with an easy endgame advantage as proven in many games.  Interestingly, Rustam Kasimdzhanov fails to mention this possibility in discussing this line on video.  But I think the ball is back in Black’s court and I don’t see a very good way to proceed.

The Albin Countergambit does
not have a particularly good reputation, but since it is not an opening you have
to face very often as White, a lot of players do not know how to achieve a safe
advantage against it. This is above all the case after the main move 5.g3 when
the switch to 5…Nge7 (from the previoulsy more usual 5…Bg4) means that it is
no longer so clear how White can point to any opening advantage. Simple
solutions are wanted and they are provided by GM Dorian Rogozenco
with his repertoire for White based on the move 5.Nbd2. Here is the complete
article, one of 12 in CBM 134. Read Rogozenco: Albin with 5.Nbd2.