Göring Attack

The Göring Attack is a chess opening characterised by the moves:


 * 1. e4 e5
 * 2. Nf3 Nc6
 * 3. Bc4 Bc5
 * 4. b4 Bxb4
 * 5. c3 Bc5
 * 6. 0-0 d6
 * 7. d4 exd4
 * 8. cxd4 Bb6
 * 9. Nc3 Na5
 * 10. Bg5

The Göring Attack is a variation of the Evans Gambit (4.b4). After the Evans Gambit is accepted (4...Bxb4) and the riposte (5.c3) has prompted the defensive 5...Bc5 (the second most popular retreat), play continues until 10.Bg5, the defining move of the Göring Attack. It is named after Carl Theodor Göring, who played it in several games against Johannes Minckwitz in 1869. The Göring Attack came into fashion after Mikhail Chigorin played it against Wilhelm Steinitz in 1883. We are told Tchigorin scored his most brilliant successes with this variation. Modern Chess Openings describes it as a "tricky" opening, "which can be refuted only if you know the right moves".