Svitlana's Smart Moves - The tricky Evans Gambit

by Arne Kaehler
6/14/2025 – In this episode, Svitlana gives an in-depth introduction to the Evans Gambit, a sharp and aggressive opening in the Italian Game that sacrifices a pawn to gain rapid development and attacking chances. She explains the main ideas for both sides, key traps, and various defensive setups for Black, emphasizing how crucial preparation and understanding of typical tactical patterns are. The lesson concludes with historical context, including a look at the famous "Evergreen Game" by Anderssen, and encourages viewers to explore this opening for its practical surprise value and rich attacking potential.
The King‘s Indian Attack is a universal opening: easy to learn, flexible, and rich in both tactical and positional opportunities.

Svitlana's Smart Moves - Episode 118

With Svitlana Demchenko and Arne Kaehler

Svitlana Demchenko is a 20-year-old, Canadian WIM and chess coach. Here and now, she will teach us plenty of smart moves on the board, ranging from tactics, strategies, openings, and everything else chess-related. In the process, I'm happy to be available as a student at club player level, and pester the Women's International Master with questions. Anyone who wants to strengthen their chess skills is welcome to watch, and actively replay the positions from the video on our chessboard.

Click Layout to hide solution:

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,182,45354%2421---
1.d4957,82655%2434---
1.Nf3285,85356%2441---
1.c4184,46556%2443---
1.g319,86356%2427---
1.b314,57954%2428---
1.f45,94948%2377---
1.Nc33,89950%2383---
1.b41,79048%2378---
1.a31,24954%2406---
1.e31,08049%2409---
1.d396750%2378---
1.g467046%2361---
1.h446654%2382---
1.c343951%2425---
1.h328956%2420---
1.a411860%2461---
1.f310047%2427---
1.Nh39267%2511---
1.Na34762%2476---
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 The starting position of the Evans Gambit. 4.c3 leads to regular Italian positions, explored in a previous lesson 4...Bxb4 4...Nxb4 5.c3 Nc6 6.d4 transposes 4...Bb6 5.0-0 Nf6 6.b5 Nd4 6...Na5 7.Nxe5 d6 7...Qe7? 8.Bxf7+ Kd8 9.d4 d6 10.Nc3 dxe5 11.dxe5+ Bd7 12.e6+- 8.Nxf7 7.Nxe5 Qe7 8.Nf3 8.Bxf7+? Kd8 8.Nxf7? d5-+ 4...Be7 5.a3 Nf6 6.d3 d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.0-0 5.c3 The whole idea of White's pawn sacrifice is to take quick control of the centre. Ba5 Most commonly played move and one with the most complications. 5...Bc5 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 Bb6 7...Bb4+ 8.Nbd2 Nf6 9.d5! Ne7 10.0-0 8.0-0 d6 9.Nc3 Na5 9...Nf6? 10.e5 dxe5 11.Ba3± 10.Bd3 Bg4 11.Nd5 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Bxd4 13.Rb1 5...Be7 second in popularity. In these lines, we often focus on the f7 pawn. 6.d4 exd4 6...d6?! 7.Qb3 Na5 7...Kf8 8.Bxf7 Na5 9.Qa4 8.Bxf7+ Kf8 9.Qa4 Kxf7 10.Qxa5 6...Na5 is theory, but not easy to find independently 7.Nxe5 Nxc4 8.Nxc4 d5 8...Nf6 9.e5 Nd5 10.Qg4 g6 11.Qe4 Nb6 12.Nd6+ cxd6 13.exd6 9.exd5 Qxd5 10.Ne3 Qa5 11.0-0= 6...Nf6?! 7.dxe5 Ng4 8.Qd5 0-0 9.h3 Nh6 10.0-0 d6 11.exd6 Qxd6 7.Qb3 Na5 8.Bxf7+ Kf8 9.Qa4 Kxf7 9...c6 10.Bb3 Nxb3 11.axb3 d5 12.exd5 Qxd5 13.0-0± 10.Qxa5∞ 6.d4 exd4 6...d6 7.Qb3 Qd7 7...Qe7 8.d5 Nd4 8...Nd8?? 9.Qa4++- 9.Nxd4 exd4 10.0-0 10.Qa4+ Kd8 11.Qxa5? Qxe4+ 12.Kf1 d3-+ 10...Bb6 11.Bb2 dxc3 11...Nf6 12.cxd4 Qxe4 12...Nxe4? 13.Re1 0-0 14.f3 Qf6 15.Rxe4+- 13.Nd2 12.Nxc3 7...Qf6?? 8.d5 Nd4 9.Nxd4 exd4 10.Qa4++- 8.0-0 Bb6 8...Nf6?! 9.dxe5± Black is already in some trouble. 9.Bb5 a6 10.Ba4 Ba7 11.Qb2 important b5 12.Bc2 Nf6= 6...Nf6? 7.dxe5 Ng4 8.Bg5 f6 9.exf6 gxf6 9...Nxf6 10.e5 d5 11.Bd3+- 10.Bh4+- 6...Nge7 7.d5 Nb8 8.Nxe5 0-0 9.Bd3 d6 10.Nc4 Bb6 11.0-0= 7.Qb3 this position has been played many times, including by very strong players. 7.0-0 is the most popular move, but Qb3 is a bit more direct and forcing, and 0-0 follows anyway. 7...Qe7 7...Qf6 8.0-0 Nge7 8...dxc3 9.Bg5 Qg6 10.Nxc3 Bxc3 11.Qxc3 Nf6 12.e5 Ne4 13.Qe3 8...Bb6 9.e5 Qg6 9...Nxe5? 10.Re1 d6 11.cxd4+- 10.cxd4 Nxd4 11.Nxd4 Bxd4 12.Nc3= 8...d3 9.e5 Qg6 One of the most famous games of all time, the Evergreen game, went: 10.Re1 Nge7 11.Ba3 11.Qd1 11...b5 12.Qxb5 Rb8 13.Qa4 Bb6 14.Nbd2 Bb7 15.Ne4 Qf5? 16.Bxd3 Qh5 17.Nf6+? gxf6 18.exf6 Rg8! 19.Rad1 Qxf3 20.Rxe7+‼ Nxe7 21.Qxd7+‼ Kxd7 22.Bf5+ Ke8 23.Bd7+ Kf8 24.Bxe7# 1-0 Anderssen,A-Dufresne,J Berlin 'Evergreen' 1852 9.cxd4 0-0 9...Nxd4? 10.Nxd4 Qxd4 11.Bxf7+ Kf8 12.Bh5 g6 13.Bb2 10.Bg5 Qd6 11.Na3 a6 12.Nc2 8.0-0 Bb6 8...Nf6 9.cxd4 Nxe4 9...0-0 10.e5 Ne8 11.Bg5 Qb4 12.Qd3± 9...d6? 10.e5 dxe5 11.d5 Nb4 12.Qa4+ Bd7 13.Qxa5 Nc2 14.Ba3 Qd8 15.Qc3 Nxa1 16.Qxe5++- 10.Ba3 d6 10...Nd6 11.Nc3 0-0 12.Nd5 Qd8 13.Bxd6 cxd6 14.Rab1= 11.Bd3 0-0 12.d5 Nb8 13.Qa4 Nxf2! 14.Rxf2 14.Kxf2 Bb6+ 15.Kg3 f5 16.h3± 14...Bb6 15.Qc2 Bxf2+ 16.Kxf2± 8...d6?! 9.e5 Nxe5 9...dxe5 10.cxd4 exd4 11.Nbd2 10.Nxe5 Qxe5 11.Bxf7+ Kf8 12.cxd4 Qxd4 13.Bb2± 8...dxc3 9.Nxc3 Bxc3 9...Nf6 10.Nd5 Nxd5 11.exd5+- 10.Qxc3 Nf6 11.Ba3 d6 12.e5± 9.cxd4 Nxd4 9...Bxd4? 10.Nxd4 Nxd4 11.Qd3 Nc6 12.Nc3 Ne5 13.Qg3± 13.Qe2?! Nf6 10.Nxd4 Bxd4 11.Nc3 Nf6 11...Bxc3? 12.Qxc3 Nf6 13.Re1 0-0 14.e5 Ng4 15.h3+- 11...d6 12.Rd1 Bxc3 13.Qxc3 Qe5 14.Qb3 Qxa1 15.Bxf7+ Kf8 16.Bxg8 Rxg8 16...Qf6 17.e5+- 17.Bb2+- 11...c6 12.Ba3 d6 13.e5+- 12.Ba3 d6 13.Rad1 Bxc3 14.Qxc3 Qe5 still lots of traps left for Black to decode: 14...Nxe4? 15.Qxg7 Qf6 16.Qxf6 Nxf6 17.Bb2 Ke7 18.Rde1+ Be6 19.f4+- 15.Qc1 0-0 16.Bb2 Qxe4 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Bd5 Qg6 19.Qxc7=
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Evans Gambit-- C52

(If necessary, press the blue arrow on the right side)

If you like Svitlana's Smart moves, you will certainly enjoy her video lectures about "Surprising your opponents with the Lazy Sicilian", her first Fritztrainer "Understanding Material Imbalances", and her courses "The Scotch Game", and the "Leningrad Dutch Defence". Her newest Entry is the "King's Indian Attack"!

In just 60 minutes, you will be well-equipped with a surprise weapon, which will take most of your opponents out of book right from the start.

This DVD focuses on several types of material imbalances, such as Rook vs 2 Pieces, Queen vs 2 Rooks, and Queen vs Pieces.

Besides in-depth theory and exciting tactical exercises in the Scotch Game, this video course also includes a bonus section on the Scotch Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Bc4), a lively variation often leading to very dynamic positions.

The Leningrad Dutch Defence is a dynamic and aggressive opening choice for Black, perfect for players who want to add some adventure and spice to their repertoire.

The King‘s Indian Attack is a universal opening: easy to learn, flexible, and rich in both tactical and positional opportunities.

Links:

<< The sleeping attacker
Review: All new releases in May! >>
Topics: coach, Svitlana Demchenko, Svitlana's Smart Moves
Arne Kaehler, a creative mind who is passionate about board games in general, was born in Hamburg and learned to play chess at a young age. By teaching chess to youth teams and creating chess-related videos on YouTube, Arne was able to expand this passion and has even created an online course for anyone who wants to learn how to play chess. Arne writes for the English and German news sites, but focuses mainly on content for the ChessBase media channels.
Discussion and Feedback Submit your feedback to the editors

See also

Svitlana's Smart Moves - Excellent Norway chess tactics

6/6/2025 – In this episode of Svitlana's Smart Moves, WGM Svitlana Demchenko dives into some of the most exciting tactical moments from Norway Chess 2025. She challenges viewers to sharpen their calculation skills by solving real-game puzzles featuring top grandmasters. Get ready to put your tactics to the test!
More...
 2

See also

Svitlana's Smart Moves - The octopus knight of Kasparov

5/30/2025 – In this episode of Svitlana's Smart Moves, Svitlana and Arne analyse a historic World Championship game from the 1985 match between Karpov and Kasparov. The focus is on Kasparov's bold pawn sacrifice, 9...d5, in the Sicilian, which showcases deep home preparation and leads to him getting a powerful "octopus knight" on d3. The analysis reveals how Kasparov's strategic mastery and piece coordination slowly restricted Karpov's position until it collapsed under pressure. The episode highlights how classical games still offer valuable lessons, especially in regard to positional dominance and long-term planning.
More...
 2

Video

60m English A solid scandinavian surprise

On this 60 mins video we are going to concentrate on a simple, very solid idea in the main line Scandinavian, which even Magnus Carlsen has used to win games. Black focusses on making his life easy in the opening and forces White to work very hard to get advantage – but it is doubtful if White can get an advantage. Club players are always on the lookout for effective, time-saving solutions and here we have just that. Accompany FIDE Senior Trainer and IM Andrew Martin on this 60 mins video. You can learn a new opening system in 60 mins and start to play it with confidence on the very same day!

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

Davidx1 Davidx1 6/17/2025 04:40
In 1883 Steinitz is already World Champion, he goes to New Orleans and wants to challenge Morphy, but this is not possible. Steinitz then plays with Maurian, a friend and usual opponent of Paul, and although he no longer plays ,by white, the Evans in official competitions from 1872, he decides to use the Gambit to show that he can do better than Morphy.
I can anticipate your every move and still find a way to achieve my goal.
arzi arzi 6/16/2025 09:00
The opening has also been used by Kasparov and Shirov. Kasparov against Piket and Anand, Shirov against Timman.
Davidx1 Davidx1 6/14/2025 04:06
It is an exciting opening even if it is not 100% logically correct.
In Bilguer's manual, 1843,there are variations good for black, as played by Anderssen against Morphy.
thirteen thirteen 6/14/2025 01:41
Can the Caro Kann get the Svitlana treatment?
1
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.