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Writer's pictureAmith A

Zhuraviev Counterpunch in Vienna

Updated: Feb 12, 2023


e4 e5

Nc3 Bb4

Qg4 Nf6

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In the Zhuraviev CounterGambit, black counters white’s attack with the queen by sacrificing the pawn for a lead in development. White is not able to castle on the king side and if white wants to castle on the queen side , it takes a lot of time as the position is such that the queen is placed on d2 when the rook develops with a tempo on g6 square. There is also a pressure on the c3 knight as d3 has to be played at the right moment allowing d5 as the knight will then be pinned. The games proceed with black trying not to exchange as many pieces as possible inorder to reduce the chance of a losing a game.



The below game showshow to proceed further in the game after the pawn is sacrificed:

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.Qg4 Nf6 4.Qxg7 Rg8 5.Qh6 Nc6 6.d3 Rg6 7.Qd2 d5 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Nge2 Be6 10.a3 Be7 11.b3 Qd7 12.Bb2 0-0-0 13.h4 Nxc3 14.Nxc3 Nd4 15.Ne2 Bd5 16.Nxd4 exd4 17.0-0-0 Ra6 18.Qf4 Bxa3 19.Bxa3 Rxa3 20.Kb2



Black has got back the pawn with an added advantage

Qe7 21.Be2 Qxe2 22.Kxa3 Qxc2 23.Rb1 Rd6

A blunder by black!!

24.Qxd6 cxd6 25.Rbc1


In the Zhuraviev CounterGambit and Giraffe attack, the queen is out in the opening trying to intimidate the black king.Those players who do not work on the sidelines might just think of this opening with the queen as a mistake but once a complete understanding of the position is achieved then players may get to know how to play such opening. But this opening might prove effective against inexperienced players. But against the more experienced players careful analysis of the way to play these kinds of position is required.

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