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Damiano Defence

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The Damiano Defense is a chess opening characterized by the opening moves

1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 f6

Black's 2...f6? is a poor move which White can punish by sacrificing a knight with 3.Nxe5!. Taking the knight with 3...fxe5 exposes Black to a deadly attack after 4.Qh5+ Ke7 (4...g6 loses to 5.Qxe5+, forking king and rook) 5.Qxe5+ Kf7 6.Bc4+. (See Sample chess game). Since taking the knight is fatal, after 3.Nxe5 Black should instead play 3...Qe7 4.Nf3 (4.Qh5+? g6 5.Nxg6 Qxe4+ 6.Be2 Qxg6) Qxe4+. Black has regained the pawn but has lost time and weakened the kingside.

The name of the opening comes from the chessmaster Pedro Damiano (1480-1544) who correctly condemned the opening as bad for black.

The ECO code for the Damiano Defence is C40 (King's knight Opening).

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