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Italian Game: Two Knights, Knight Attack

Morozevich–Sokolov, SuperGM Sarajevo 1999 · Duda–Aronian, Superbet Chess Classic Romania 2025 · 6:38 · ECO C58

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In this video

Game 1: Alexander Morozevich (2723) vs Ivan Sokolov (2624)

SuperGM Sarajevo 1999, 17 May 1999 · White won (1-0) · 41 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.Bb5+The first move after the opening line0:29
  2. 17.Nhg5The evaluation moves from +1.68 to +0.211:14
  3. 18...Qxc2The evaluation moves from +0.25 to +1.571:22
  4. 24...Nxe6The queens come off1:52
  5. 34...f5White stays more than two pawns ahead from here2:42
  6. 37...Rxd2The evaluation moves from +4.08 to +5.472:56
  7. 41.Rxc8White wins after 41 moves3:14

Evaluation

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

Game 2: Jan-Krzysztof Duda (2739) vs Levon Aronian (2747)

Superbet Chess Classic Romania 2025, 10 May 2025 · Black won (0-1) · 40 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.Bb5+The first move after the opening line3:42
  2. 15...Bxd8The queens come off4:20
  3. 34.Bb8The evaluation moves from −0.85 to −2.40, and Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here5:52
  4. 36.Kh2The evaluation moves from −2.34 to −3.556:02
  5. 40.Rhg1The evaluation moves from −3.53 to −6.326:22
  6. 40...Ra1Black wins after 40 moves6:25

Evaluation

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

About these games

After 4.Ng5 attacks f7, Black answers 4...d5 5.exd5 and, instead of recapturing, plays 5...Na5, giving up a pawn to hit the bishop on c4 and gain time. White's aim is to keep the extra d5-pawn and finish development. Black's aim is a lead in development, open lines and active pieces in return.

Morozevich–Sokolov continued 6.Bb5+ Bd7 7.Qe2. White exchanged with 9.Bxd7, gained queenside space with 10.a3 and 12.b4 Nb7, and later took a second pawn with 16.Nxh7. The engine had White at +1.68 before 17.Nhg5, which dropped the score to +0.21. Black then played 18...Qxc2, which sent it back to +1.57. The queens came off on 24...Nxe6, and White's passed d-pawn advanced to d6. Black's 34...f5 lifted the score from +1.18 to +2.43, and White stayed more than two pawns ahead from then on. After 37.fxg6 White reached +5.42 by 40...Kg7, and White won with 41.Rxc8.

Duda–Aronian followed the main gambit line, 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Qf3. Black took the bishop pair with 13...Nxd3+, and the queens came off on 15...Bxd8 at +0.41. Black then advanced the kingside pawns with ...f5, ...f4 and 22...f3, and won material with 24...Nxc2, bringing the score to −1.43 by 25...Rc8. 34.Bb8 took the score from −0.85 to −2.40, and the e-pawn ran forward to e2. 36.Kh2 (−3.55) and 40.Rhg1 (−6.32) made it worse for White, and Black won after 40...Ra1. In Game 1 White converted the extra pawn. In Game 2 Black's pawns decided the game.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Morozevich vs Sokolov, SuperGM Sarajevo 1999
  3. 3:23Game 2: Duda vs Aronian, Superbet Chess Classic Romania 2025

The opening line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5

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