Petrov Defense Cochrane Gambit (Nxf7??)

If you are looking for an aggressive surprise weapon against the Petrov, look no further! The Cochrane Gambit is dubious, double edged and promises an exciting game!
For an introduction to the Petrov Defense, watch this video on the basics: • Petrov Defense | Ideas...
As opposed to almost every other variation of the Petrov Defense, in which the middlegame positions reached often have a symmetrical structure and no queens, the Cochrane Gambit is quite a refreshment! White sacrifices a knight for two pawns and basically goes all in for an attack!
Needless to say, the engines hate the move and think that white is almost losing, but for humans, such an evaluation is hard to prove. I have found that with correct play, even if black knows what he is doing, white can achieve a good attacking position! The reason for that is that the black king is often stuck on the f7 or g8 square, thus preventing the h8 rook from entering the game. Because of that, with correct play, white can virtually play an exchange up.
Another good thing about the gambit is that no one is going to expect it. You will know that you will play it. Your opponent won’t. That’s why you will be far less likely to blunder. The positions arising after Nxf7 are complex, and black is either going to have to waste time to play well, or he is going to make poor moves. This makes a lot of rooms for you to win the game quickly.
In conclusion, the Cochrane Gambit is definitely worth trying out!
If you would like to support the channel and my quest to chess improvement, you can donate here: www.paypal.me/HangingPawns
Any support is greatly appreciated! Thank you!
The next tournament abroad I plan to play is at the start of July in Slovenia. The trip, accommodation, entry fee and food come out at roughly 860$. So far I am at 154.8/860$ (18.1%).
Thank you for the support so far!
Francisco R., Simon F., Ken A., Debbie and Brian T., Philip D., Alexandre M., Pascal S., Daniel N.
#chess

[@brian6046]

this channel is so underrated... deserves more subs

[@gagandeepsinghbindra]

Wow a youtuber who listens to his subscribers? Thats new! Thanks a lot for doing my suggestion.

[@farestestouri3379]

Thank you very much for listening to my suggestion, hope this channel will reach 1 million subs soon

[@HangingPawns]

No problem Fares:) And thank you for the wishes!

[@Ronin760]

A lot of books I am reading now are recommending this line against the Petrov. I never really considered it seriously (perhaps now I should) because the only piece you develop is sacrificed so early. I understand that you gain two pawns for the piece and put the King on it's weakest square, but you brought up two really good points that I have not considered. One: The trading of the Bishops in the center could draw the King further away from safety. Two: The Rook on E8 is inactive for most of the game (I have never really considered that but I found that true with my own experience in blitz games). Difficult to defend and there maybe a psychological advantage in that the opponent who wanted a calm positional game now has to play "damage control" early while white develops. Thanks for the videos. I have only discovered you recently but I appreciate the effort and insight you provide. Cheers!

[@ankeshpatel523]

Thank you so much to making video for Cochrane gambit sir

[@chaimrochlitz8523]

Best chess channel ever!! Glad to say I was there with you from start

[@HangingPawns]

Thank you very much Chaim:)

[@williamlucadamo1574]

Superb! I play this a lot for fun! At 15.28, I play knight to d5, not pawn d4. So many ways for black to go wrong, so many ways for Queen to come out and check king and retake the knight. White queen dominates while black queen is sidelined. Love how you showed so many variations!

[@drakehopkins5931]

Thumbnail is quite attractive i must say!! Thanks for this quite informative

[@PeterSodhi]

Incredible!!!

[@jaroslavpors6559]

Amazing

[@michaelvanzyl9418]

Very fun to play

[@robertjean8488]

I play it in CORRESPONDENCE chess and I've won some against 2200 players so it's certainly playable and if Kramnik couldn't break Topalov in 1999 then it's certainly playable! Having a central/kingside pawn mass certainly gets opponents on the edge of their seats when we push them aggressively like f-g pawn when it's possible. I wish I could play it in a live tournament, never happened yet in 6 years.

[@Insidia85]

Min 12:00 The main move 12....Rd8 is wrong and reset the black advantage from - 0,8 to 0,00 ,equalizing the position Better is 12.Nd4 threatening the Queen. Stockfish says that

[@Blue-nt3uy]

Nice vid! Might use this in bullet later!

[@HangingPawns]

Oh. Didn't know. How did he do?

[@maniniescobar244]

Could you kindly make a video on the Latvian gambit!? Thanks

[@z_a_r_c_o]

absolutely awesome video! you mentioned you'd try this out in a blitz game, why not add a clip of you testing the gambit out? could be educational to see you try out the ideas of the opening

[@HangingPawns]

I thought about playing blitz on the channel tons of times, but I want to keep it educational. So I will stick to longer time controls.

[@z_a_r_c_o]

@@HangingPawns ooh even better! Will definitely be staying tuned for that in the future!

[@WeCube1898]

Stjepan is good, he explains the concepts for both perspective.

[@stehen]

I wish you get the silver button by reaching 100k

[@veldora_tempest0155]

Nxf7 will definitely surprise opponent 😂 sac a piece for two pawns is not best but I'll try to play this ....

[@markusrenegrob285]

After 5. Nc3, play 5. ... Be6 and your king does not go wandering. What is your idea then?

[@Wisdom7029]

sir, can you post how to play against Bishop opening

[@danielbrunk9121]

6:40 "So the move Nc6 I wouldnt recommend" (?) 😅 I thought after that Variation White is just down a piece with no attack im so confused😅 I think the whites Kingside pawns are very dangerous. After Rf8 artificially castling f2-f4 and white has a big center. But then again Bd6 x f4 with a discovered check on the white queen on d3... But still it can be played later and if Black doesnt attack properly and doesnt succeed stopping whites kingside pawns I think he may be screwed... So maybe thats what stiapan wanted to say... Love your videos

[@rizka7945]

Well if black at 4:04 plays 6...Kg8??? then white is NOT going to take the knight. 7.Qd5+ Be6 8.Qxe6# is better! :P Reminds me much of what can happen in the Fried Liver Attack.

[@Robertl-xz6yl]

Here it is! Due to popular demand lol

[@TheGavinkjg]

cool

[@electricgaming3425]

Does white have any attacking chances after 5. Bc4+?

[@HangingPawns]

Well he always does, but after Be6 it's harder to create chances.

[@aflatoon_333]

When will you upload the four knights game?

[@michaelvanzyl9418]

khizer khan too simple

[@aflatoon_333]

Still there might be a few gambits and stuff

[@maximilianveyne3973]

A bit confused. Is Nc6 bad or not? You state that it is bad yet show how black has a much superior position.

[@arcanuke3294]

nah he says its strong but d4 is stronger. Everything wins but if you want to play the best move then thats not it.

[@lecryptomanciendu3578]

Great video but i wonder, if knic3 is that great, how come nobody plays it against caruana and such ?

[@HangingPawns]

I was thinking the same. I think the reason is that nobody plays Nxf7 against them:)

[@danielmee2876]

If black takes the pawn with knight at start it queen to e2 the best move?

[@lautaro94ce]

Yes, that is the Damiano Variation, an inferior variation for Black. It follows with Qe7, Qxe4 d6 d4

[@lautaro94ce]

It is played at begineer levels, i have played Qe2 but not with the intention to enter the main line, but after Qe2 you hope the black to remove the knight and enter into the trap with Nc4+ capturing the queen

[@DylanYu99]

Cochrane Gambit is a fun way to surprise players who are expecting a Stafford. I lost twice to the Cochrane now.

[@shenFen-jf2jk]

Yeah rather counter gambit than accept a stafford, otherwise play normally.

[@danielkemendi9373]

Why do you say at 6:43, that the move Nc6 you wouldn't recommend if its -2 and white can resign? It is good for black, why don't you recommend? Might you wanted to you do not recommend the early d4 varioation because Nc6?

[@didyouknowbathtubsarejustr5370]

Oooooooooooaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh

[@Cherrytea558]

After the King takes why not Bc4?

[@lautaro94ce]

Then it happens the same as the line with 5.d4 c5 but with those moves not played. After 4.Bc4+ then d5, exd5 and Bd6 blocking the attack

[@andrijastropin8541]

What about Stafford Gambit*

[@elihleradebe5821]

somewhere somehow plz prepare for the London system I win very well but don't know it's theory

[@yndihalda]

He will, he's going through the e4 openings first, d4 openings will come after all the e4 openings are covered.

[@Schizophrenic_Energy]

5:00, 7:51 Russian speakers can laugh here)

[@SCthatsMe]

awesome job and ty so much for taking the time and making these videos, hit me up on lichess for a game one day bro SCthatsme7856

[@elvinchris4502]

if he plays with you then when will he upload the videos

[@ibonedurmom66]

I lost to this gambit one game