In this, our second installment looking into Dan Heisman’s new book, “Is Your Move Safe?”, we’re going to look at a familiar opening position. Years ago, in a match against a future master, I reached a position similar to this as White and was astonished to see my opponent play the “not safe” move! In the ensuing years, I’ve seen this position at every level, and quite often you see Black make the same mistake and then White completely miss a winning opportunity! What should and shouldn’t Black play here? Heisman gives Black three choices after the position is reached by 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4: 5…Nxe4; 5…0-0; 5…Nbd7. Pick one.

- Solution: Heisman first covers the “fork trick” possibility: 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 Nxe4 6.Nxe4 [6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Nxe4 Rf8] 6...d5 7.Bd3 dxe4 8.Bxe4 0–0 9.0–0 Nd7 and points out that Black is OK, but should be aware of the possibility of his king losing the castling privilege. That’s important to point out because I have often pointed out that if a player is uncomfortable with a certain line, he probably shouldn’t play it. Thus, his second possibility is a bit better as after Black plays 5...0-0 and White responds with 6.0-0, Black can now play 6...Nxe4 without having to worry about bishop checks on f7. The last choice is a disaster on several levels: 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 Nbd7 6.Bxf7+ [Also quite good is 6.e5 dxe5 7.dxe5 Ng4 (7...Nh5 8.Bxf7+ Kxf7 9.Ng5+ Kg8 10.Qd5+) 8.Bxf7+ Kxf7 9.Ng5+]6...Kxf7 7.Ng5+ Kg8 [7...Kf8 8.Ne6+; 7...Ke8 8.Ne6] 8.Ne6 Qe8 9.Nxc7 Qd8 10.Nxa8. My own game had this happen a little differently: 1.e4 d6 2.d4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.Bc4 Nd7 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Ng5+ Kf6 where Black avoided 7.Qf3# but lost anyway.

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