The Mikenas pawn sacrifice is lesson 10 of 10 in Brilliant sacrifices 5: master sacrifices, an opening course suited to players rated around 2100 (strong club players). English Opening, Mikenas-Carls Attack, A19. White gives the e5 pawn and jumps to d6 with a knight. It has 3 interactive exercises: 3 find-the-move puzzles. You play every move on a board and get feedback straight away. The lesson is free.
What this lesson explains
This is the English Opening with an early e4 and e5. Black took on d4. White takes back and leaves the e5 pawn. About 23,000 rated games on Lichess have reached this position.
Nxd4! The knight takes back and leaves e5. If Nxe5, the other knight jumps to b5 and heads for d6.
After Nxe5 and Ndb5, a6 is met by Nd6 check. White takes back with the queen on d6, and Black's dark squares are very weak. The engines like White a little.
Recap.
In this English line, White gives the e5 pawn.
After Nxe5, Ndb5 heads for d6.
Nd6 check forces Bxd6, and the queen takes back.
Black's dark squares become very weak.
What you practise
First play the line. You are White: play the moves of the English Opening, up to the moment of the sacrifice.
Your turn: find the sacrifice. Take back on d4. Do not worry about the e5 pawn.
Black trades knights on d4. Take back with the queen.
Worked examples
First play the line. You are White: play the moves of the English Opening, up to the moment of the sacrifice. Good. Black answers cxd4. Now the position is ready for the sacrifice.
Your turn: find the sacrifice. Take back on d4. Do not worry about the e5 pawn. That is the Mikenas sacrifice. A knight on d6 will tie Black down.
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