We are talking about the line of 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nxe4, known as Damiano variation in Petrov’s Defence.
Once I had the stupid idea to study the dubious move 3..Nxe4 when I was preparing to play a tournament game with black against a grandmaster. There was a Four Knight Opening in the game, but later I studied 3…Nxe4 variation quite well and I think that Black’s “provocation” works much better than one might expect, especially at a fast time control. White’s cowardly deviations from the principled move 4.Qe2 do not cause any particular problems for Black, so let’s consider the main branch of the variation.
4.Qe2 Qe7 5.Qxe4 d6 6.d4 dxe5
White can want to go into the endgame (since they have an extra pawn).
7.Qxe5?!
Probably it won’t be the good idea. After this, Black’s chances are not worse, moreover if White holds on to the material stubbornly, they may end up with a losing position.
7… Qxe5+ 8.dxe5 Bf5
9.c3 (very weak 9.Bd3?! Bxd3 10.cxd3 Nc6 11.f4 (11.0-0 0-0-0) 11…Nb4, but 9.Nc3!? is interesting, however, Black is fine, if they will play accurately, for example – 9…Nc6 10.Bb5 Bxc2 11.Be3 Bb4) 9…Nd7 10.Bf4 (10.f4?! 0-0-0 11.Be3 f6, and if 12.exf6 Nxf6, than White can’t hold the balance) 0-0-0 11.Nd2 Nxe5 12.Bxe5 Re8 13.Nс4 f6, the position is equal.
To save the queens is the best decision – 7.dxe5 Nc6. Now White has a strongest 8.Nc3 and some tempting but weaker options.
1. 8.Bf4?! usually it is a prelude to a mistake on the next move g5! 9.Bg3? f5 and Black wins a piece. Of course, White can avoid the trap and continue 9.Bd2 with mutual chances, for instance 9…f5 10.Qe2 Be6 11.Qh5+ Bf7 12.Qxg5 Qxe5+ 13.Qe3 0-0-0 14.Qxe5 Nxe5 15.Nc3 Bc5. White delays the development and cannot save the extra pawn – 16.f3? Bd2+
2. 8.f4?! Bg4! A naive 9.Bb5? 0-0-0 can lead to a loss due to the development delay, and 10.Bxc6 Rd1+ 11.Kf2 Rxh1 12.Bxb7+ Kb8 accelerates the defeat. Stronger 9.Nc3 0-0-0 10.Be3, but 10…Qb4 allows Black to achieve the equality. For ex. 11.Rb1 Qxe4 12.Nxe4 Nb4 13.c3 Bf5.
3. 8.Bb5 This continuation has been tested often, but Black’s margin of safety is quite sufficient. An optional but one of the most common variations here was seen in the 2022 US Championship game Caruana,F – Liang,A: Bd7 9.Nc3 0-0-0 10.Bf4 Qb4 11.0-0-0 Qxe4 12.Nxe4 Nxe5 13.Bxd7+ Nxd7 14.Ng5 Be7 15.h4 (more often there was 15.Nxf7 Rdf8 16.Nxh8 Rxf4 17.Rhe1 Kd8 and two black pieces are not worse than the white rook) and here instead of the immediate Bxg5 played in the game, more reliable 15…Rde8 with a possible Bxg5 on the next move.
4. 8.Nc3! Qxe5 9.Qxe5 Nxe5 The most realistic claim to White advantage in 3…Nxe4 line.
Now White has two strong alternatives.
4a. 10.Bf4 f6
White didn’t achieve anything in the recent game from the US Championship:
Niemann,Hans Moke (2733) – So,Wesley (2751) [C42]
USA-ch Saint Louis (5), 16.10.2024
11.0-0-0 Bd7 12.Bxe5 fxe5 13.Bb5 c6
White can try to win a pawn 13.Nb5 Bxb5 14. Bxb5+ c6 15. Bd3 Bc5 16. f3 O-O-O 17. Bf5+ Kc7 18. Rxd8 Rxd8 19.Bxh7, but the endgame with opposite-coloured bishops is unlikely to be won, for ex. Be3+ 20. Kb1 Rd2 21. g4 Bf2 22. a4 Bh4 23. Bd3 a5
14.Rhe1 0-0-0 15.Bc4 b5 16.Bd3 Re8 17.Ne4 Be7 18.Nd2 Bf6
19.h3 Kc7 and draw on 42nd move
It is clear that this example does not exhaust the position after 10. Bf4 f6, but it looks like Black is holding on.
4b. 10.Nb5 Bb4+ 11. Bd2 Bxd2+ 12. Kxd2 Kd8
The most serious response to 3…Nxe4. Black is in real danger. Mathematically it’s not so bad, but from a practical point of view, it’s not easy to defend – White has too many options. However, a successful defense is possible. I give an example from my own practice.
Nimmy,A.G (2099) – Kul,Ivan (2194) [C42]
First Saturday IM May 2023 Budapest (9), 16.05.2023
13. Re1 Nd7 14. Bc4 Rf8 15. Re3 Nb6 16. Bb3 Bd7 17. a4 c5 18. Nd6 Kc7 19. Nb5+ Bxb5 20. axb5 c4 21. Ba2 Rad8+ 22. Kc1 Rd5 23. Re4 Rxb5 24. Bxc4 Ra5 25. Rhe1 Ra1+ 26. Kd2 Rxe1 27. Kxe1 Nxc4 28. Rxc4+ Kd6= , the resulting absolutely drawn endgame was lost, but the “dubious” opening turned out well for Black.