Rare Chess Opening Trap: The Xena Attack

Rare sideline of the Modern Scandinavian Defense explained.
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[@Stalemate1982]

As a scandi player who also likes crazy gambits Your channel just became my favourite one. Thx to Jonathan and of course to You!!!

[@Nolord_]

WOW, the first few move are the one I play as black and I love traps, this continuation is incredible ! This will be added to my repertoire for the modern scandinavian, I assure you !

[@lowther1407]

Love this! Just found your channel the other day. I main the Scandinavian and have been loving your videos!

[@PetarKrizanic]

Just subscribed after winning a blitz game with The Xena Attack. Thanks, man!

[@williamd2999]

7:16 I think re3+ is just mate in 2 for black. Re3+ kf2 rg3+ kxg3 qf2#

[@williamd2999]

Oop never mind king goes to e1

[@williamd2999]

I said the moves wrong oops

[@adamiskosach]

Yeah :D

[@mcronrn]

You gave the stats 9/300 at 8:38? Well, in Apr 23’, it’s 83/629! People are playing your stuff!! 🤣🤣👏👏👍🏽👍🏽

[@mcronrn]

Is there gonna be a second Xena covering 5.Nf3? Imma start playing this soon, and I’ll just play engine lines until you share more of your secrets, I guess… 🤣🤣🙏🙏👍🏽👍🏽

[@adamiskosach]

5. Nf3 can still transpose to Xena attack. Then 6. d4 is actually the only good move for white according to stockfish. Perhaps I could cover some lines where they play some other moves 🤔

[@saiprasadrakasi8442]

After Nb4, what happens on Bd3, the queen has no longer access to e4 would you simply take the bishop and target the isolated doubled pawns?

[@adamiskosach]

You should develop Bf5 and most people are going to trade bishops which is not helpful for white. After that trade they should castle to avoid the fork and then you can capture on c2 with your queen. Doesn't matter if they also trade the Queens, black has great position, no weaknesses and up one pawn. Should be easy to attack and win the weak isolated pawn in the centre afterwards.

[@irjake]

Since it's an opening for black, should it be the Xena Defense instead?

[@adamiskosach]

Interesting point, I never thought about opening names in this way 🤔 but since black is kind of the one attacking white in this line, I'll keep it this way.. maybe someday if I get an email from FIDE stating that they will enlist my opening under condition of changing it's name to Xena Defense.. maybe I'll change it.. but probably not 😂

[@yrtepgold]

Perhaps Xena Counterattack would be more accurate? This is not a defensive reply so I don't think it would be accurate to call it the Xena Defense. When black replies to an opening in an aggressive way, the opening for black is typically described as a countergambit, ex Albin Countergambit, or counterattack, ex Traxler Counterattack. This opening doesn't offer any material in exchange for development, so I wouldn't describe it as a gambit. Xena Counterattack would line up with existing naming conventions, if you decide to change it.

[@itayn6422]

@@yrtepgold openings are called counter-attacks only whrn the other side attacked first (fried liver - traxler counterattack) so I think Xena attack is the best name

[@Gnoff123]

When trying to get to this position I often have problems with pawn d4 attacking my queen before the knight is out and being protected by the bishop. Are there any good ways to handle this? Love your content! I try for the Gandalf gambit in most of my games and the Xena attack is a very good follow up most of the time.

[@adamiskosach]

Hi and thanks for the comment! Can you please explain once again which position is causing you trouble? I cannot understand, maybe you could write the moves? Thanks again!

[@Gnoff123]

Sorry for being unclear. It is the situation right after the queen takes the knight. In the video you say the most played moves from white are knight d4 or pawn e4 (timestamp 1:35). If they instead play pawn d4 they attack your queen while protecting the pawn at the same time. This force me to move my queen away and I cannot follow up on the attack. I would love to hear what you would do in that situation. Once again, great videos, I love your gambits :D

[@jeffmueller8233]

Never covered Bd3

[@adamiskosach]

Hi, Bd3 is only played in about 3% of the games and it isn't a particularly good move so I didn't consider it worth covering

[@DarkSideChess]

Just played this in my lichess4545 league game! Worked like a charm!

[@adamiskosach]

That's great!