Keres Defence
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| Moves | 1.d4 e6 2.c4 Bb4+ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ECO | A40 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Origin | Johann Löwenthal vs. Henry Thomas Buckle, 4th match game, London 1851 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Named after | Paul Keres | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent | Franco-Indian Defence | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Synonym(s) | Kangaroo Defence | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Keres Defence (also known as the Kangaroo Defence) is a chess opening characterised by the moves:
The opening is named after Estonian grandmaster Paul Keres.
History
[edit]This opening was known since the 1840s and was played by Henry Thomas Buckle in his fourth match game with Johann Löwenthal, London 1851.[1][2] The standard reply today, 3.Bd2, was recommended by Howard Staunton.
Discussion
[edit]White can respond 3.Nc3, 3.Nd2, or 3.Bd2. The game often transposes to a Nimzo-Indian Defence, a Dutch Defence, a Queen's Gambit Declined, an English Defence, or a Bogo-Indian Defence. 3.Nc3 is likely to transpose into one of those openings: 3...Nf6 (Nimzo-Indian), 3...f5 (Dutch; Korn gives 3...Bxc3+ 4.bxc3 f5!,[3] played by Buckle) 3...d5 (an unusual form of QGD), or 3...b6 (English). Black has the same options after 3.Nd2, except that 3...Nf6 4.Nf3 is a Bogo-Indian.
After 3.Bd2, Black can continue with 3...Bxd2+ into a line of the Bogo-Indian, and 3...a5 will also usually transpose to a Bogo-Indian when White plays Nf3. Or Black can allow White to play e4: 3...Qe7 4.e4 d5 (Black obtained a good game in Llanos–Hoffman, San Luis Clarin 1995 with 4...Nf6 5.a3 Bxd2+ 6.Nxd2 d6 7.Bd3 e5 8.d5 0-0)[4] 5.Bxb4 (5.e5 Timman–Spraggett, Montpellier 1985)[5][6] Qxb4+ 6.Qd2! Qxd2+ (if 6...Nc6 then 7.Nc3!) 7.Nxd2 with slight advantage for White.[7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Hooper, David; Whyld, Kenneth (1996) [First pub. 1992], "Keres Defence", The Oxford Companion to Chess (2nd ed.), Oxford University Press, p. 198, ISBN 0-19-280049-3
- ^ Löwenthal vs. Buckle, London 1851 Chessgames.com
- ^ Korn, Walter (1982). "Queen's Pawn Games". Modern Chess Openings (12th ed.). David McKay Company, Inc. p. 312. ISBN 0-679-13500-6.
- ^ Schiller (1998), p. 227
- ^ Timman vs. Spraggett, Montpellier 1985 Chessgames.com
- ^ Matanović 1996 (Vol A), p. 295, note 73
- ^ Kasparov, Gary; Keene, Raymond (1982). Batsford Chess Openings. American Chess Promotions. p. 47. ISBN 0-7134-2112-6.
Bibliography
- Matanović, Aleksandar, ed. (1996). Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings. Vol. A (2nd ed.). Yugoslavia: Chess Informant.
- Schiller, Eric (1998). Unorthodox Chess Openings. Cardoza Publishing. pp. 227–28. ISBN 0-940685-73-6.
Further reading
[edit]- Benjamin, Joel; Schiller, Eric (1987). "Keres Defence". Unorthodox Openings. Macmillan Publishing Company. pp. 68–69. ISBN 0-02-016590-0.