The Albin Countergambit is a

chess opening The opening is the initial stage of a chess game. It usually consists of established Chess_theory#Opening_theory, theory. The other phases are the chess middlegame, middlegame and the chess endgame, endgame. Many opening sequences, known as ''op ...

that begins with the moves: :1. d4 d5 :2. c4 e5 and the usual continuation is: :3. dxe5 d4 The opening is a gambit and an uncommon response to the

Queen's Gambit The Queen's Gambit is the chess opening that starts with the moves: :1. d4 d5 :2. c4 It is one of the oldest openings and is still commonly played today. It is traditionally described as a '' gambit'' because White appears to sacrifice the ...

. 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 advantage. In the ''

Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings The ''Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings'' (''ECO'') is a reference work describing the state of Chess theory#Opening theory, opening theory in chess, originally published in five volumes from 1974 to 1979 by the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugos ...

'' the Albin Countergambit is assigned codes D08 and D09.

History

Although this opening was originally played by Cavallotti against Salvioli at the

Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...

tournament of 1881, it takes its name from Adolf Albin, who played it against

Emanuel Lasker Emanuel Lasker (; December 24, 1868 – January 11, 1941) was a German chess player, mathematician, and philosopher. He was the second World Chess Champion, holding the title for 27 years, from 1894 to 1921, the longest reign of any officially ...

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.

Main line

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 their light-squared (king-side) bishop with 5.g3 followed by Bg2 and Nbd2. Black will often

castle A castle is a type of fortification, fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by Military order (monastic society), military orders. Scholars usually consider a ''castle'' to be the private ...

. 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 blunder—Black 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 In chess, ''en passant'' (, "in passing") describes the capture by a Pawn (chess), pawn of an enemy pawn on the same and an adjacent that has just made an initial two-square advance. This is a special case in the rules of chess. The capturi ...

'' 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.

References

Bibliography * *
Adolf Albin and the Genesis of the Albin Counter Gambit Part I
O. G. Urcan, chesscafe.com
Adolf Albin and the Genesis of the Albin Counter Gambit Part II
O. G. Urcan, chesscafe.com

External links

* {{Authority control Chess openings 1881 in chess