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On this page of chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com we will learn the Collijn Defense of the Danish Gambit opening. It is an official variation the Danish Gambit, Danish Gambit Accepted, very similar to the Schlechter Defense except the last move (Schlechter 5... d5, Collijn 5... Qe7). It is less popular than the Schlechter, unknown but strong defense for Black, and tricky: in figure 2 pay attention to possible Qb4+ with attack on 2 bishops and to the attacked undefended pinned pawn on e4...
I. Danish Gambit Collijn Defense
In the left figure 1 we can see the Danish Gambit with 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3, and in the next figure 2 the Collijn Defense of the Danish Gambit that continues with 3... dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 Qe7 (it may be called "Danish Gambit Qe7"). White is developed but must defend the pawn e4 and watch Qe4+ not to lose a bishop on b2 or c4. The black queen Qe7 delivers 2 threats but hinders the development of its friendly pieces on the king side... How to play for White and Black?..
Figure 1. Danish Gambit Figure 2. Collijn Defense
Moves: 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 Qe7
Chess Opening in Figure 1: Danish Gambit
Variation in Figure 2: Collijn Defense of the Danish Gambit
Accepted/Declined: This is a Danish Gambit Accepted
Code in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO): C21
Learn below proven lines of the Collijn Defense of the Danish Gambit (How to Play). They were proved by the Danish Gambit Qe7 master games and by a chess engine that calculates and shows the following: + is White; - is Black; 0-0.50 equal; 0.51-1.00 slightly better; 1.01-1.50 better; 1.51 much better. Examples: +1.27 (White is better as if White won 1.27 pawns by material). -0.62 (Black is slightly better as if Black won 0.62 pawns). +0.42 (equal). ?? blunder.
II. How to Play the Collijn Defense
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 Qe7
White must (both) defend the e4-pawn and prevent ... Qb4+.
Best 4 moves for White: 6.Nc3 (the best one), Nd2, Qe2, Bb3.
The following Danish Gambit 5... Qe7 lines have been proven by
chess master games (not many) and chess engine evaluations.
• Main Lines via 6.Nc3, Nd2, Qe2
Danish Gambit Collijn Defense
6.Nc3 c6 7.Nge2 b5 8.Bb3 a5 9.a3 d6 (+0.35)
6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Nge2 d5 8.Bxd5 c6 9.Bb3 Na6 (+0.47)
6.Nd2 d5 7.Bxd5 Nf6 8.Ne2 Nxd5 9.exd5 Bg4 (-0.62)
6.Qe2 d6 7.Nf3 Bg4 8.h3 Bh5 9.Qe3 Ngf6 (-0.20)
6.Bb3 b6 7.Nc3 Ba6 8.Nge2 Nc6 9.Nd5 Qd6 (-0.50)
If 6...Qxe4+, 7.Ne2 Qxg2 8.Rg1 Qc6 9.Rxg7 Nf6 10.Rxf7 (+0.00)
Note. In the above Danish Gambit lines 5... Qe7 of the Collijn Defense, we should remember the typical moves of White (Nc3, Nge2, Bb3, Bxd5) and Black (Qe7, d5, d6, c6, b5) as well as the ideas behind.
• Watch the Black Queen Move ... Qb4+
Danish Gambit Collijn Defense
Examples with with bad results for White:
6.Nf3?? Qb4+ 7.Nc3 Qxc4 (-4.62)
6.Ne2?? Qb4+ 7.Nbc3 Qxc4 (-4.20)
• To the Main Page of the Danish Gambit | Lesson 26
On this page of chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com we learned the Collijn Defense of the Danish Gambit (Accepted) with 3... dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 Qe7 (ECO C21). This official variation may be called as "Danish Gambit Qe7." You saw the best Danish Gambit lines of the Collijn. The best respond is 6.Nc3, and 6.Nd2, Qe2, Bb3. White must watch the possible strike of the black queen Qb4+...
