Punishing the Damiano Defence is lesson 3 of 10 in Brilliant sacrifices 1: classic traps, an opening course suited to players rated around 900 (beginners). Damiano Defence, C40. Black guards e5 with the f-pawn. A knight sacrifice opens the king. It has 4 interactive exercises: 4 find-the-move puzzles. You play every move on a board and get feedback straight away. The lesson is free.
What this lesson explains
Black defended e5 with the f-pawn. That is the Damiano Defence, and it is a mistake. The pawn on f6 opens the diagonal from h5 to the king on e8. About 11 million rated games on Lichess have reached this position.
Nxe5! The knight takes the pawn. If fxe5, the queen comes to h5 with check, and the king has no good square.
After fxe5 and Qh5 check, g6 would lose the rook, so the king walks to e7. Qxe5 check drives it to f7, and Bc4 check keeps the attack going. The engines give White a winning attack.
Recap.
2...f6 is a mistake: it opens the king's diagonal.
Nxe5, fxe5, Qh5 check, and the king must walk.
If Black answers Qe7, play Nf3 and stay a pawn up.
Never guard e5 with the f-pawn in the opening.
What you practise
First play the line. You are White: play the moves of the Damiano Defence, up to the moment of the sacrifice.
Your turn: find the sacrifice. The pawn on f6 weakens the black king. Give a knight on e5.
Black does not take the knight. The queen on e7 attacks it instead. Retreat calmly and stay a pawn up.
After Qh5 check, Black blocks with g6. Now the rook on h8 is loose. Take e5 with check.
Worked examples
First play the line. You are White: play the moves of the Damiano Defence, up to the moment of the sacrifice. Good. Black answers f6. Now the position is ready for the sacrifice.
Your turn: find the sacrifice. The pawn on f6 weakens the black king. Give a knight on e5. Right. Nxe5, and after fxe5, Qh5 check. The black king is dragged into the open.
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