Chess Opening: English Four Knights’ 4.g3 Nd4!?
In this video I explore a gambit line for Black in the Four Knight’s English: 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Nd4!? I found this idea in the book Starting Out: The English, by Neil McDonald. He spends one sentence dismissing White’s acceptance of the gambit with 5.Nxe5. Being curious, I launch an exploration into this line… Black gets good attacking chances in all lines, but it’s by no means a forced win. Especially after the best defense 8.Kf2, Black has some work to do. I ran short of time so this video doesn’t really have a conclusion. Basically, White can survive, but Black has enough long-term compensation for his pawn.
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Tagged with: analysis • chess • english • four • gambit • knights • opening • pullin
Filed under: Chess Opening
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Great vid Castle!
nice analysis and good video
that was great thanks
Excellent video.
Extra interesting this time Matt! Is there any chance you would consider doing a small series on the English — maybe exploring some of the ideas in Tony Kosten’s ‘Dynamic English’? — I love that book, but I find some of the concepts quite confusing (I must admit I’m quite a lazy player and can rarely give chess books the time they need to sink in) But I have found his basic idea of playing an early g3 rather than Nc3 has given me some good games.
I like that book too, it’s excellent, but the move order 2.g3 has its detractors as well. Plus it’s become such a popular method of playing the English it has zero shock value.
Some of my other videos (Pullin-Auger, Pullin-Mitkov, and a couple of the blitz vids) show me playing the “Kosten English”.
Nice Video. I have started studying some of the books you list in your vids. So far they are helping with my game.
Very interesting analysis Matt. I hope you do more of these kind of videos in the future as I am just simply too lazy to study a chess book haha. I would especially enjoy seeing your repetoire against the king’s gambit and more videos on the English! But your videos are very much appreciated!
at 5:42 why Qg6 not Nxa1
Interesting Gambit for black. Excellent video and explaination!
Excellent analysis.
my mistake i didnt see the knight omg im stupid lol
nice ty
Nice video! But I think it is pretty obvious that Nxe5 is risky.
thanks for posting this…question? is it better to learn white before playing as black…and should I learn the square num and letters…it gets confusing sometimes..
Only when you study openings does color matter. You should learn chess first.
Yes, you should learn algebraic notation. It’s not hard and you can’t read chess or follow people talking about chess without it. Hope this helps.
Hi I think you haven’t seen that when white moves knight from e5 black can mate him with knight f3 because white pawn is pined from the queen. Bishop f5 is no good move.
Thank you if I’m not right let me know
Kf2
I would like to say that I enjoy your videos. I am primarily a white player and by watching your videos of black’s various defenses I am able to strengthen my play.
great, very good job
5:54 Why not take pawn at E3 and attack the queen ? He cant protect rook with his queen. Wins a pawn..
You have a good point there, I had thought that 12..Nxe3 allowed 13.Qa4+, and that on 12..Nd4+ the doubled pawns would impede White’s development. But I wasn’t sure, so I ran it through Rybka..
Turns out 12..Nxe3+ 13.Qa4 c6 14.d3 Nxf1 is slightly better for Black (-0.10), and 12..Nd4+ 13.exd4 Qxb1 14.Qb3! is better for White (+0.66)!
But 12..Qh5+ is stronger than both knight moves (-0.45).
I wouldnt expect anyone to take this pawn because usually when people play the english, I find its because they are afraid of lines where black is active..they are trying to accent their strengths which is long manouvering play rather than tactical calculation. Unfortuntely, im not sure how much it helps black positionally to trade these knights…its structurally similar to an alapin im familiar with, colors reversed but in that structure, black’s kingside knight is rather awkwardly placed.
This was a complete eye opener. Wow. I take my hat off to you, sir. Please keep this up – I learn from you like you are pollen feeding the bee nest. Don’t let the honey get too sticky!
Just became an English opening player myself recently, didn’t realise this old gem of yours. GREAT