Decide
Step 1 · Count first
White to move
r1bqkb1r/pppp1ppp/2n2n2/4p3/2B1P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 4 4Black’s knight has just attacked e4.
How many white pieces defend the e4 pawn right now?
Quick check
- None
- One, the queen
- Two, queen and bishop
Show the correct answer
Correct answer: None — None. The knight attacks it and nothing defends it: the queen on d1 does not reach e4, and the bishop on c4 covers d5 and f7, not e4. Something has to be done this move.
- One, the queen — The queen on d1 does not reach e4: its diagonal runs e2, f3, g4, h5. The pawn is undefended.
- Two, queen and bishop — Neither. The bishop on c4 covers d5 and f7; the queen’s diagonal misses e4. The pawn is undefended.
Watch
Step 2 · The fork trick
White to move
r1bqkb1r/pppp1ppp/2n2n2/4p3/2B1P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 4 44.Nc3 guards e4 with a knight, and Black plays …Nxe4! After Nxe4 d5 the pawn forks bishop and knight: Black gets the piece back with a strong centre and equal chances.
The line: 4.Nb1-c3 Nf6xe4 5.Nc3xe4 d7-d5
Your move
Step 3 · Guard it properly
White to move
r1bqkb1r/pppp1ppp/2n2n2/4p3/2B1P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 4 4e4 is attacked and undefended. Guard it with a move that has no tactical hole.
Hint: e4 is attacked. Guard it with a move that does not walk into …Nxe4.
The move: 4.d2-d3
4.d3. The pawn guards e4, the c1 bishop opens, and there is no trick: …Nxe4 dxe4 is simply a piece for a pawn.
Also good here
4.Nf3-g5— Also sound: the Fried Liver, attacking f7 at once. Sharp, and a different lesson.4.d2-d4— Also playable: the Scotch-gambit way, …exd4 e5. A different lesson.
Why not another move?
4.Nb1-c3— Playable, but …Nxe4! Nxe4 d5, the fork trick: Black regains the piece with a strong centre and easy equality. You handed Black exactly what they wanted. What follows:4…Nf6xe4 5.Nc3xe4 d7-d54.O-O— …Nxe4 and after Re1 d5 Black keeps the pawn: castling here drops e4.4.Qd1-e2— Guards e4, but the queen blocks your bishop’s retreat and the e-file. Playable, not best.
Watch
Step 4 · Both sides build
Black to move
r1bqkb1r/pppp1ppp/2n2n2/4p3/2B1P3/3P1N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQK2R b KQkq - 0 4Black develops the bishop to its best diagonal. Both sides are building; nothing hangs.
The reply: 4…Bf8-c5
Decide
Step 5 · Why d3?
White to move
r1bqk2r/pppp1ppp/2n2n2/2b1p3/2B1P3/3P1N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 1 5One question before you move on.
Why did d3 guard e4 better than Nc3?
Quick check
- No fork trick after d3
- d3 prepares d4 next move
- d3 attacks the c5 bishop
Show the correct answer
Correct answer: No fork trick after d3 — Because after d3 there is no fork trick: …Nxe4 dxe4 is a piece for a pawn. And d3 opened the c1 bishop for free.
- d3 prepares d4 next move — d3 does not prepare d4 by itself; that needs c3 too. Its job here is guarding e4.
- d3 attacks the c5 bishop — d3 does not touch the c5 bishop. It guards e4 and frees the c1 bishop.
Your move
Step 6 · Is the trick on?
Black to move
r1bqk2r/pppp1ppp/2n2n2/2b1p3/2B1P3/2N2N2/PPPP1PPP/R1BQ1RK1 b kq - 7 5Now you are Black. White castled and then played Nc3. Is the fork trick on? Decide.
Hint: Before …Nxe4, ask: is my bishop on c5 safe when the knight lands on e4? Here it is not.
The move: 5…O-O
5…O-O. Right: the trick is not on here. After …Nxe4 Nxe4 d5, White plays Nxc5! and takes your loose bishop before the fork lands. Castle and keep the tension.
Also good here
5…d7-d6— Also fine: …d6 supports e5 and keeps everything guarded. The trick was not on: …Nxe4 Nxe4 d5 Nxc5 takes your bishop.
Why not another move?
5…Nf6xe4— …Nxe4? Nxe4 d5, and Nxc5! takes your loose bishop before the fork lands. The trick needs your own pieces safe first. What follows:6.Nc3xe4 d7-d5 7.Ne4xc5
On your own
Step 7 · On your own
White to move
r1bqk2r/ppppbppp/2n2n2/4p3/2B1P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w kq - 6 5Black’s bishop is on e7, not c5, and your king is castled. Black’s knight hits e4. Choose your defence.
Hint: e4 is attacked. Guard it, and check first whether the guard walks into a trick.
The move: 5.d2-d3
5.d3. The pawn guards e4 and the bishop opens; with the king already castled this is the calm way.
Also good here
5.Nb1-c3— Also good, and safe here: with the bishop on e7 the fork trick gives Black nothing.5.d2-d4— Also strong: opening the centre at once while Black’s bishop is passive on e7.
Why not another move?
5.Nf3-g5— …d5! and the attack on f7 is over; the knight goes back. What follows:5…d7-d55.Bc4xf7— …Kxf7: a bishop for a pawn. What follows:5…Ke8xf75.Rf1-e1— …Nxe4 Rxe4 d5 and Black wins the pawn back with tempo on your rook. Playable, but it hands Black activity.5.Qd1-e2— Guards e4, but blocks the e-file rook. Playable, not best.
A quick refresher
In the app this position is not part of the lesson itself: it comes back later, as a review, to check that the idea stuck.
Your move
With c3 already in
White to move
r1bqk2r/pppp1ppp/2n2n2/2b1p3/2B1P3/2P2N2/PP1P1PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 1 5c3 is already played and Black’s knight hits e4. Defend it.
Hint: e4 is attacked; guard it without walking into a trick.
The move: 5.d2-d3
5.d3. Guarded, bishop open, and d4 still possible later.
Also good here
5.d2-d4— Also the main line: 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 pushes the knight; sharp and correct.
Why not another move?
5.O-O— …Nxe4, and after d4 d5 Black keeps the pawn. What follows:5…Nf6xe45.Qd1-e2— The queen blocks the bishop; playable, not best.5.Nf3-g5— …O-O and the knight achieves nothing.5.Bc4xf7— …Kxf7: a bishop for a pawn. What follows:5…Ke8xf7
What you learned
Count attackers and defenders on e4, then pick the guard that has no tactical hole. Before the fork trick, ask whether your own bishop is safe.
In your next game
When a knight attacks your e4 pawn, look at d3 first. Before Nc3, check …Nxe4 Nxe4 d5. As Black, play the trick only when your bishop cannot be taken on the way.