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Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Accepted 5.c3 Be7

Shirov–Timman, Biel SKA 1995 · Antipov–Rodshtein, TCh-ESP Div Honor 2018 · 4:44 · ECO C51

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In this video

Game 1: Alexei Shirov (2695) vs Jan Timman (2590)

Biel SKA 1995, 28 July 1995 · White won (1-0) · 28 moves

Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.

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Key moments

  1. 6.d4The first move after the opening line0:29
  2. 12...O-O-OThe evaluation moves from −0.22 to +1.300:52
  3. 21...d5The evaluation moves from +1.76 to +4.77, and White stays more than two pawns ahead from here1:36
  4. 25...Bb7The evaluation moves from +5.68 to +7.421:56
  5. 28.Nxd5White wins after 28 moves2:09

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

Game 2: Mikhail Antipov (2598) vs Maxim Rodshtein (2678)

TCh-ESP Div Honor 2018, 11 August 2018 · Black won (0-1) · 30 moves

Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.

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Key moments

  1. 6.d4The first move after the opening line2:38
  2. 21.Kxf2The queens come off3:42
  3. 24.f5The evaluation moves from −1.60 to −2.76, and Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here3:58
  4. 30...Rc5+Black wins after 30 moves4:30

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

About these games

After 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3, White gives up a pawn to gain time for a quick d4 and open lines against Black's king. The retreat 5...Be7 keeps the bishop safe from d4-d5 and c3-d4 pushes, and after 6.d4 Black usually plays ...Na5 to trade off or chase White's bishop from c4. The fight is between White's lead in development and central control and Black's extra material and solid kingside.

Shirov–Timman followed 7.Be2 exd4 8.Qxd4, and White took a second pawn with 9.Qxg7 while Black gained time on the queen. Black castled queenside with 12...O-O-O, and the evaluation moved from −0.22 to +1.30, because White's a-pawn could now attack the king. Shirov pushed a4 and a5, then broke open the position with 20.e5. After 21...d5 the score rose from +1.76 to +4.77, and 25...Bb7 took it from +5.68 to +7.42. White sacrificed with 26.Bxb6, and after 27.Nxb6+ and 28.Nxd5 White won.

Antipov–Rodshtein went 7.Bd3 d6 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Nxe5, so White won the pawn back and Black castled kingside, unlike Black's long castling in Game 1. The queens came off with 20...Qxf2+ 21.Kxf2 at −1.62, and Black's rooks went after White's weak c-pawn. After 24.f5 the score moved from −1.60 to −2.76, and 24...Rxc3 won the pawn. The rooks then drove the white king up the board, and after 30...Rc5+ Black won.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Shirov vs Timman, Biel SKA 1995
  3. 2:18Game 2: Antipov vs Rodshtein, TCh-ESP Div Honor 2018

The opening line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Be7

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