Page 1 of 1
my favorite but unusual line of the Lopez exchange for Black
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 12:33 pm
by Kevin O'Rourke
hi.
Doesn't happen enough but I like this line as black
1.e4 .....e5
2.Nf3.....Nc6
3.Bb5....a6
4.BXc6....dxc6
5.Nxe5....Qg5
White must play Nf3 or he loses the h2 pawn as well
I like to grab the g pawn instead of the normal 5....Qd4 getting the e pawn back.
Can someone put this into a diagram on here plz.
thanks
Re: my favorite but unusual line of the Lopez exchange for Black
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 12:59 pm
by Roger de Coverly
Kevin O'Rourke wrote: ↑Fri Jan 08, 2021 12:33 pm
I like to grab the g pawn instead of the normal 5....Qd4 getting the e pawn back.
Can someone put this into a diagram on here plz.
I don't ever recall seeing a game where one player knew so little theory that they took the pawn on e5.
Re: my favorite but unusual line of the Lopez exchange for Black
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 1:00 pm
by John Upham
Kevin,
A diagram is not required after only five moves.
Moderators :
Can this post be relocated to
viewforum.php?f=28 please?
Re: my favorite but unusual line of the Lopez exchange for Black
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 1:14 pm
by Eric Gardiner
I imagine it would occur quite a lot in online games? Checking on Chessbase's online database, I found several 2200+ players who have played 5.Nxe5. A couple of the games look like pre-arranged draws however.
Re: my favorite but unusual line of the Lopez exchange for Black
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 1:31 pm
by Roger de Coverly
In a similar position in the Berlin, Nxe5 does win a pawn, as .. Qd4 doesn't get it back and .. Qg5 isn't legal.
Re: my favorite but unusual line of the Lopez exchange for Black
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 3:17 pm
by IM Jack Rudd
Kevin O'Rourke wrote: ↑Fri Jan 08, 2021 12:33 pm
hi.
Doesn't happen enough but I like this line as black
1.e4 .....e5
2.Nf3.....Nc6
3.Bb5....a6
4.BXc6....dxc6
5.Nxe5....Qg5
White must play Nf3 or he loses the h2 pawn as well
That's not quite right, is it? 6.d4 Qxg2 7.Qf3 also avoids losing a pawn.
Re: my favorite but unusual line of the Lopez exchange for Black
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 3:43 pm
by Geoff Chandler
.""White must play Nf3 or he loses the h2 pawn as well."
In Blitz I'd castle. It's a blitz piece sac for the centre. Might be good fun.
But regarding the 5...Qg5 line
I would not sweat too much as White there. I'd enjoy the challenge of cooking something up.
Try it v your favourite computer, you take Black. See how you get on.
EDIT: I see Jack got in just before me. But I've done properly with a diagram, a moving PGN thingy.
and made an assessment of the position in question.

Re: my favorite but unusual line of the Lopez exchange for Black
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 4:17 pm
by Matt Mackenzie
Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑Fri Jan 08, 2021 12:59 pm
Kevin O'Rourke wrote: ↑Fri Jan 08, 2021 12:33 pm
I like to grab the g pawn instead of the normal 5....Qd4 getting the e pawn back.
Can someone put this into a diagram on here plz.
I don't ever recall seeing a game where one player knew so little theory that they took the pawn on e5.
Encountered it a couple of times at the very start of my serious chess career four decades ago, though I played 5.....Qd4 - as was and likely still is universally recommended by openings books that mention this - and won pretty easily (both the opponents were barely above beginner strength)
Re: my favorite but unusual line of the Lopez exchange for Black
Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 2:41 pm
by Kevin O'Rourke
Thank you. quite like that move for white now you have pointed it out.
Might stick with the Qd4 move. However, i'm sure I read it in a chess book that it said black can play Qd4 or Qg5 in response to the capture of the e pawn.
Re: my favorite but unusual line of the Lopez exchange for Black
Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 5:01 pm
by Kevin Thurlow
"In Blitz I'd castle. It's a blitz piece sac for the centre. Might be good fun."
I'd be happier playing the Halloween Gambit...
Re: my favorite but unusual line of the Lopez exchange for Black
Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 5:07 pm
by JustinHorton
Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑Fri Jan 08, 2021 12:59 pm
Kevin O'Rourke wrote: ↑Fri Jan 08, 2021 12:33 pm
I like to grab the g pawn instead of the normal 5....Qd4 getting the e pawn back.
Can someone put this into a diagram on here plz.
I don't ever recall seeing a game where one player knew so little theory that they took the pawn on e5.
I have played the Black side on lichess, and more than once I think.