If you're reading this blog and play 1.e4 e5, chances are overwhelmingly likely that you've faced 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 on more than one occasion. On 3...dxc3, White might play 4.Nxc3 - the Goring Gambit - or 4.Bc4 - the Danish Gambit. Neither possibility should chase Black away from 1...e5, but they can be annoying.
Fortunately, Black has a very simple, straightforward path to equality starting on move 3: 3...d5!, and after 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Nc3 (or 7.Be2 Bb4+ 8.Nc3, transposing) Bb4 8.Be2 Bxf3 9.Bxf3 Qc4. White's score in this position, which occurs 295 times in Mega 2006, is a dismal 40% (+46 - 104 = 145). White has two main tries here, 10.Qb3 and 10.Bxc6, with the latter the more serious move. After 10.Qb3, Black is fine after 10...Qxb3 11.axb3 Nge7 12.Be3 O-O-O 13.O-O a6, when White's poor pawn structure is counterbalanced by the bishop pair - especially the Bf3.
So let's turn to the main line: 10.Bxc6+ bxc6 11.Qe2+ Qxe2+ 12.Kxe2 Ne7. Black is fine here, too, and again we have a position where the better player will win - but Black doesn't have to worry that he'll be on the receiving end of an attacking massacre. For those of you who like your opening sidelines to be "wash and wear", this might be all the information you desire, the end of the investigation. But for others, this can be the beginning. For those who fall into the second category, I recommend Karsten Müller's current Chess Cafe
column, in which this ending is explored further. It's worth a look for endgame fans, and if you play this line with White, it's nearly a must.
