Let's begin the Ponziani Opening!
Let's learn a tricky and dangerous opening weapon: the Ponziani. Start by pushing the king's pawn forward two squares to e4.
Let's continue the Ponziani.
Now let's develop the king's knight to f3.
After Black responds with knight c6, we can begin the Ponziani.
After Black responds with knight c6, we can begin the Ponziani. Let's push our pawn to c3. The idea is to sacrifice the natural developing square for our knight in order to build a big pawn center.
Black used their bishop to defend the center, but they've walked right into our trap and they are now losing. Let's play pawn to d4 to attack the bishop.
Let's capture back with our c pawn to keep the pressure on Black's bishop.
Let's block Black's check while developing a piece with knight to c3.
Black moved their pawn to open up their light squared bishop, but this move slightly opens up their king and allows us to set a nasty trap. First, let's kick the knight out of the way with pawn to d5.
Black fell for our trap! Now White to move and win a piece. Can you find it? Hint: Queen to a4 check, winning the bishop on the next move.
Now let's take the free bishop with queen b4!
Well done! We are a full piece ahead and have a dominant position.
Black has developed their other knight, which allows us to shove our opponent's pieces backwards and finish our development. Pawn to d5 this time.
Let's finish our development and protect the pawn on e4 with bishop to d3.
Well done! Look at how cramped Black's position is here - all thanks to our vicious Ponziani pawns. Our pieces are developed, we own the center, and we are ready to castle kingside. Even though the material is equal, chess engines give our position more than 1 point of advantage!
Black blundered by opening up their king while their bishop is still undefended on b4! Now White to move and win a piece. Can you find it? Hint: Queen to a4 check, winning the bishop on the next move.
Now let's take the free bishop with queen b4!
Well done! We are a full piece ahead and have a dominant position. The computer puts our position at a +4 point advantage.
Black played d5, the best move, but we can still set some traps with queen a4.
Black made a mistake by taking on e4. Now we can move our knight out of danger, win back our pawn, and add pressure to Black's pinned piece with knight to e5.
Finally, Black has made a mistake and blundered a pawn! Let's first take the bishop with knight to d7.
Now we can take the free pawn. Queen takes e4 with check.
Finally, let's build our strong center with pawn to d4. If you remember, that was the original goal of the Ponziani Opening!
Well done! We are up a pawn and have much better position than our opponent. We'll move our queen to safety, develop our bishop, and castle kingside.
Let's continue our plan to take the center with pawn to d4.
Black took our pawn with their knight which is a bit dangerous. We can now kick the other knight out with pawn to d5.
Let's recapture the e5 pawn with our knight.
Black opening up their king in this position is a huge blunder and loses them the game! We begin a vicious attack with bishop to b5 with check.
Let's take back with pawn to c6, threatening discovered check on the next move.
Let's take back with knight to c6, once again threatening discovered check on the next move
Clever! Black forked our knight and bishop, but we can retreat the knight back to d4, guarding the bishop and discovering a check to the king.
Well done! Black will have to move their king out of the way, losing their ability to castle. We are a pawn up and our position is so good that the computer puts our position at a +4 point advantage.
Let's take back with the bishop on c6, creating a beautiful triple fork on Black's king, rook, and knight.
The bishop can take either trade for the rook, or capture the knight for free. Let's take the knight for free with bishop to e4.
Beautifully executed! We are way ahead in material.