Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Tartakower Attack

Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Tartakower Attack

Definition

The Evans Gambit, Tartakower Attack is a sharp attacking line in the Italian Game that begins with 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 (the Evans Gambit) and continues 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 d6 7. O-O Bb6 8. dxe5. In ECO tables it is indexed as C52. The name “Tartakower Attack” honors the great Polish-Argentine grandmaster Savielly Tartakower, who refined this plan for White in the early 20th century.

Typical Move Order

A common illustrative sequence is:

By move 9 (after 9. Qxd8+ Nxd8 10. Nxe5 in some lines), White has sacrificed a pawn and often exchanged queens, but enjoys:

• Rapid mobilization and lead in development
• Pressure on f7, c7, and the long a2–g8 diagonal
• Targets on Black’s backward d- and e-pawns

Strategic Ideas

• Pawn Offer for Tempo: 4. b4 lures the bishop away, giving White c3 and d4 with gain of time.
• e5 Thrust: In the Tartakower line White pushes dxe5 or sometimes e5 directly, clearing the long diagonal for the c4-bishop.
• Queenside Expansion Deferred: Unlike other Evans lines that keep queens on, the Tartakower Attack is content to trade queens if it yields activity and pawn structure targets.
• Piece Play over Material: White typically remains a pawn down but strives to exploit Black’s underdeveloped kingside and awkwardly placed pieces (Ba5/Bb6, Nd8, etc.).

Historical Background

• The Evans Gambit itself was introduced by the Welsh sea-captain William Davies Evans in 1827.
• Savielly Tartakower experimented with the 8. dxe5 idea in the 1920s, proposing that the resulting queenless middlegame favored White’s lead in development.
• Although eclipsed by more solid openings in top-level praxis after World War II, the line still surfaces as a surprise weapon—famously revived by Garry Kasparov in the 1990s rapid and blitz arena.

Famous Games

• Garry Kasparov – Viswanathan Anand, Riga Blitz 1995
  Kasparov unleashed the Tartakower Attack and won in 25 moves, demonstrating the potency of rapid development even in queenless positions.
• Nikolic – Short, Tilburg 1989
  Short defended the extra pawn accurately and held a draw, illustrating modern defensive resources for Black.

Modern Usage

The line is rare in classical time-controls but popular at club and online rapid levels:

• Surprise value—opponents may be unfamiliar with precise defensive moves.
• Good training weapon to practice attacking with material deficit.
• Computer analysis has rehabilitated several continuations once thought dubious.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• Tartakower is said to have quipped, “The winner of the game is the player who makes the next-to-last mistake,” a philosophy well suited to gambit play.
• Kasparov’s use of the Evans Gambit (including the Tartakower line) in the 1990s stirred renewed interest; sales of Evans Gambit books briefly spiked after his televised games.
• Several popular chess engines, when allowed long thinking time, now agree that the resulting positions are roughly equal—proof that dynamic compensation can match material.