After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 White plays 3.c3 and prepares d4 for a big pawn centre. You learn the Jaenisch Counterattack 3...Nf6, the popular 3...Bc5, the sharp 3...d5 and the Ponziani Countergambit. Many common Black replies are small mistakes here, and you learn how to punish them. This is a beginner opening course for White (ECO C44) with 6 variations and 3 traps, written for players rated around 1000. Each move is explained and then drilled on a board; it is free.
Key ideas of Ponziani Opening
The c3 pawn prepares d4. When Black takes on d4, take back with the c-pawn and keep two pawns in the centre.
Push d4 at once. Black's knights and bishops often have to move again and lose time.
When the d-pawn reaches d5, it chases the c6 knight. A knight on the rim or on e7 blocks Black's own pieces.
With the queen on a4, the c6 knight is pinned to the king. Then the e5 pawn often hangs.
Watch the e-file and the a4 to e8 diagonal. Checks from the queen or a bishop on b5 win loose black pieces.
Variations you learn
3...Nf6 4.d4 Nxe4 5.d5: Jaenisch main line – 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. d4 Nxe4 5. d5 Ne7 …. Black grabs the e4 pawn. White gains space with 5.d5 and wins the pawn back on e5. After the knight trade White pins the e4 knight on the e-file and keeps more space.
3...Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.e5: the knight on d5 – 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. e5 Nd5 …. Black takes on d4 and White kicks the f6 knight with 5.e5. White takes back with the c-pawn, trades the dark-squared bishops and castles. The pawns on d4 and e5 give White more space.
3...Bc5 4.d4: the big centre – 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Bc5 4. d4 exd4 5. cxd4 Bb4+ …. 3...Bc5 is popular, but here it is a mistake. 4.d4 hits the bishop and White builds the ideal centre. After 6...Nf6 White pushes 7.d5 and gets the two bishops and lots of space.
3...d5 4.Qa4: the Steinitz Variation – 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d5 4. Qa4 f6 5. Bb5 Ne7 …. Black hits back with 3...d5. The queen goes to a4 and pins the c6 knight. Black protects e5 with 4...f6, and White develops quickly, opens the centre with d4 and castles. The most common reply, 4...dxe4, is shown in the traps.
3...d6 4.d4: the passive defence – 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d6 4. d4 exd4 5. cxd4 Nf6 …. Black plays the solid 3...d6, but it is a bit passive. White takes the centre with 4.d4. After 4...exd4 5.cxd4 White has two central pawns, develops quickly and castles.
3...f5: the Ponziani Countergambit – 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 f5 4. d4 fxe4 5. Nxe5 Nxe5 …. Black attacks e4 with the f-pawn. White hits the centre with 4.d4 and the knight jumps to e5. If Black trades on e5, White wins the e4 pawn with a queen check and stays a pawn up.
Traps
6...d6? 7.Bb5+: the check on the diagonal – In the Jaenisch main line Black often kicks the e5 knight with 6...d6. But 7.Bb5+ comes first. After the pawn trades on c6 the knight takes c6 and attacks the queen and the e7 knight.
5...Na5? 6.b4: the trapped knight – In the Jaenisch main line the knight on c6 must not go to a5. 6.b4 traps it. Black can grab two pawns, but White stays a piece up.
5...Bd7? 6.Nxd7: the extra pawn – After 3...d5 4.Qa4 Black often takes on e4. White wins the e5 pawn back with the knight. If Black now plays 5...Bd7, White trades on d7 and takes the e4 pawn with check.
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