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Damiano Defence

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The Damiano defense


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+ 5.Be2. Black has regained the pawn but has lost time and weakened his kingside, and will lose more time when White chases the queen with Nc3.

The name of the opening comes from the Portuguese master Pedro Damiano (1480-1544) who correctly condemned it as weak.

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

One of the few chess experts to play the black side of this opening is Sam Sloan.

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