Evans Gambit: Tartakower Attack, 7...Qd7
Evans Gambit: Tartakower Attack
Definition
The Evans Gambit is an aggressive variation of the Italian Game that begins 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4!?. In the Tartakower Attack, Black accepts the pawn and then places the bishop on a5 instead of the traditional retreat to b6, following the moves 4…Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 d6. The line is named after the Polish-French grandmaster Savielly Tartakower, who advocated this setup for Black in the early 20th century as a solid, flexible antidote to the fiery Evans.
Typical Move-order
One commonly quoted sequence reaches the Tartakower setup by move 6:
- e4 e5
- Nf3 Nc6
- Bc4 Bc5
- b4 Bxb4
- c3 Ba5
- d4 d6
White has sacrificed a pawn and seized the center; Black counters with …d6 to shore up e5 and keep lines closed long enough to complete development.
Strategic Ideas
- White aims for rapid development, central domination (d4, c3, 0-0, Qb3) and pressure on f7 and b7.
- Black accepts the material plus but avoids premature tactics, steering toward a solid structure (…d6, …Nf6, …Bb6, …0-0, …Re8) where the extra pawn can count in the endgame.
- The key decision for Black on move 7 is where to put the queen (…Qe7, …Nf6, or the Tartakower idea 7…Qd7—see next definition).
Historical Significance
Tartakower introduced this line in the 1920s as a pragmatic way to neutralize the Evans, which had terrorized 19th-century defenses. While the gambit was a mainstay of the Romantic era (Adolf Anderssen, Paul Morphy), the Tartakower plan helped restore balance by emphasizing development and solidity over immediate material return.
Illustrative Mini-Game
After 7…Qd7 (highlighted above), Black keeps an eye on g4, connects the rooks, and prepares long-term maneuvering without giving back material.
Interesting Facts
- The Evans Gambit nearly disappeared from top-level play after the rise of positional chess, but saw a revival when Garry Kasparov used it to win a celebrated blitz game against Viswanathan Anand (Leuven, 1997).
- Magnus Carlsen essayed the Evans (though not the Tartakower line) against Hikaru Nakamura in the 2020 Chessable Masters, sparking renewed interest on streaming platforms.
7…Qd7 in the Evans Gambit
Definition
The move 7…Qd7 is Black’s seventh move in the Tartakower Attack after the sequence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 d6 7. 0-0. Instead of the more common 7…Nf6 or 7…Bb6, Black plays the queen to d7, connecting rooks, guarding the bishop on a5, and reserving flexibility for the king.
Purpose and Strategic Motifs
- Defense of a5-bishop: Prevents tactics like 8.d5 that might trap the piece once White’s knight arrives on b3.
- Control of g4: Stops White’s typical pinning idea Bg5.
- Flexible castling: Black can decide between short or long castling based on White’s setup.
- Preparation of …Nge7 & …0-0-0: A modern plan is to reinforce the center before striking back with …f5.
Critical Continuations
- 8. Qb3 Bb6 9. dxe5 Na5 10. Bb5 c6 leads to tense play where Black’s extra pawn is balanced by White’s lead in development.
- 8. d5!? Nce7 9. Na3 Nf6 10. Qc2 0-0 shows the queen solidly supporting the e5-pawn.
Practical Evaluation
Modern engines give 7…Qd7 “≈” (rough equality) if Black is precise. White’s initiative is real, but Black’s structure is sound and the extra pawn often endures into the endgame.
Notable Games Featuring 7…Qd7
- Tartakower – Alekhine, Folkestone 1933 (analysis game): Alekhine demonstrated the queen move’s robustness in post-mortem analysis sessions.
- Short – Kasparov, Paris Rapid 1990: Kasparov used 7…Qd7 to neutralize Short’s home preparation, eventually converting the extra pawn.
- Firouzja – Caruana, Chess.com Speed 2021: Caruana held comfortably with 7…Qd7 in a blitz setting, illustrating its practical solidity even against cutting-edge engine prep.
Trivia
Because the queen blocks the c8-bishop, many club players avoid 7…Qd7, fearing cramped play. Tartakower quipped, “A chained bishop is still a bishop; the chained king is checkmated,” emphasizing development safety over piece activity.