Queen's Gambit Accepted: Old Variation, Korchnoi Gambit

In the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Old Variation, Korchnoi Gambit, White starts with the move d4 to control the center of the board right from the start. This move also frees up the c1-bishop and allows White to develop their pieces rapidly, putting Black on the defensive. By playing d4, White is trying to gain an advantage in the early stages of the game and dictate the tempo of the game. The move d4 is a key feature of many successful chess openings and lays the foundation for a strong position on the board.

With the move d5, Black wants to challenge White's control over the center of the board. This move also helps Black to develop their own pieces, particularly the queenside knight and the light-squared bishop. By controlling the d4 square, Black hopes to limit White's options and create opportunities to launch their own counterattacks. Additionally, by occupying the center with pawns, Black aims to establish a solid foundation for their position and restrict White's ability to maneuver their pieces.

By playing c4 after the moves 1. d4 d5, White is trying to gain even more control over the center of the board. With the pawn on c4, White supports the d4 pawn and creates additional space for their pieces to develop. This move also prepares the way for White's queenside knight to be brought into the game after Nc3 is played. One of the key advantages of playing c4 is the ability to launch an attack on Black's pawn on d5, which is a key target for White in many chess openings. In sum, the move c4 is an important part of White's strategy to dominate the board and gain an early advantage in the game.

In the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Old Variation, Korchnoi Gambit, after the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4, Black can play dxc4, which is known as accepting the gambit. By taking the c4 pawn, Black is essentially sacrificing a pawn to gain some tempo and counterplay opportunities. This move also opens up the c-file for Black's pieces and puts pressure on White's pieces. However, taking the pawn does weaken Black's pawn structure and can create potential weaknesses on the queenside. In sum, dxc4 is a bold move that requires careful calculation and a willingness to take risks in order to gain an advantage in the game.

By playing e3 after the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4, White is trying to solidify their position and maintain control over the center of the board. This move supports the d4 pawn and prepares the way for White's pieces to be developed, particularly the bishop on c1. It also helps to prevent Black's queen from infiltrating along the c-file, which can be a potential danger after dxc4. Additionally, by playing e3, White sets up the possibility of playing dxc4 later on to recapture the pawn if needed. In sum, e3 is a flexible move that strengthens White's position and creates more options for future moves.

After the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3, Black can play e5 to try to seize control of the center of the board. This move also opens up lines of attack for Black's pieces, particularly the light-squared bishop and the queen. By playing e5, Black is clearly willing to take some risks in order to gain counterplay opportunities and try to gain the upper hand in the game. However, this move does leave Black's d5 pawn unprotected, which could be a potential weakness for Black's position later on. In sum, e5 is an aggressive move that aims to disrupt White's position and create opportunities for Black to launch a successful attack.

In the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Old Variation, Korchnoi Gambit, after the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 e5, White can play Bxc4 to attack Black's knight on c6 and develop their own light-squared bishop. This move also puts pressure on Black's position and creates more potential weaknesses on the queenside. By capturing the knight on c6, White also gains more control over the center of the board and opens up lines of attack for future moves. However, by playing Bxc4, White does surrender the bishop pair advantage and leaves their own d4 pawn undefended. In sum, Bxc4 is a solid move that aims to gain some tactical and positional advantages, but it also requires careful calculation and a good understanding of the deeper strategy of the game.

After the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 e5 4. Bxc4, Black can play exd4 to open up lines of attack and gain some tempo against White's pieces. By capturing the bishop with the pawn, Black threatens White's queen and gains another open file for their own pieces. This move also eliminates a potential source of pressure on Black's position and frees up the f8-square for the queenside knight. However, by capturing with the pawn, Black does ultimately give White more control over the center of the board. Additionally, this move can lead to an asymmetrical pawn structure that can favor one side or the other, depending on the specific gameplay. In sum, exd4 is a dynamic move that aims to create counterplay and put pressure on White's position.

After the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 e5 4. Bxc4 exd4, White can play Qb3 to put pressure on Black's position and attack the pawn on b7. This move threatens both the pawn on b7 and the bishop on c8, potentially forcing Black to move their bishop and weaken their position even further. Additionally, Qb3 indirectly supports the pawn on d4 by controlling the d4 square. This move also puts the queen on a defended square and sets up the possibility of launching an attack on Black's king in the future, particularly if Black castles to the kingside. However, playing Qb3 does leave White's own queen exposed and vulnerable to attack, so this move must be played with caution and an eye towards potential tactical threats. In sum, Qb3 is a move that aims to gain some tempo and put Black on the defensive, while also setting up potential future threats in the game.

In the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Old Variation, Korchnoi Gambit, after the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 e5 4. Bxc4 exd4 5. Qb3, Black can play Qe7 to defend against the potential attack on the e pawn and regain control over the f8-bishop. This move also indirectly defends the d5 pawn by supporting the e6 square and potentially allows Black to castle queenside. Additionally, Qe7 threatens White's own queen and puts pressure on the d4 pawn. However, by playing Qe7, Black does block the c8-bishop and can limit their own options for developing their pieces. In sum, Qe7 is a move that aims to reinforce Black's position and create counterplay, while also maintaining a solid defensive strategy.

After the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 e5 4. Bxc4 exd4 5. Qb3 Qe7, White can play Kf1 to defend against potential threats to the g2-pawn and create the possibility of castling kingside. This move also frees up the g1-square for the h1-rook and allows White to reinforce their position before launching further attacks. Additionally, by playing Kf1, White prevents Black's knight on f6 from forking White's king and queen, which can be a potential source of danger in many chess openings. However, playing Kf1 does mean that White's king is temporarily left in the center of the board and potentially vulnerable to attack, so care must be taken to ensure that White's position remains secure. In sum, Kf1 is a move that helps to consolidate White's position and prepare for future attacking opportunities.