Anonymous3 wrote on 11/22/14 at 21:44:03:


Strange switch of choice from Kaufman.

In Larry Kaufman's book, "The Kaufman Repertoire for Black and White", he recommends 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Bc5 (as opposed to his earlier book "The Chess Advantage in Black and White where he recommended the most popular defense, 3...Nc6 4.d3 Na5). 

I think the critical line is where White transposes the game to the King's Gambit Declined with f4. 4.d3 c6 (Kaufman's recommendation. Alternatively, 4...Nc6 5.f4 d6 6.Nf3 would transpose to the main line of the KGD and this is generally thought to be slightly better for White) 5.f4 now:

Kaufman gives 5...d6 and then 6.Nf3 transposes to a line of the King's Gambit Declined with ...c6 instead of the most popular ...Nc6. Kaufman just gives 6...b5 7.Bb3 a5 8.a4 b4 9.Ne2 Qc7 10.fxe5 dxe5 and says "White's castling problems gives Black equality". Is this line of the King's Gambit Declined with ...c6 OK for Black?

5...d5!? is interesting, although White can avoid this with the move-order 4.f4 d6 5.Nf3 c6 (Black isn't committed to playing 5...c6 here and could play the main line of the KGD with 5...Nc6, although, again, this is generally thought to be slightly better for White) 6.d3.