Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...f6

Damiano defence
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Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)

rnbqkbnr/pppp2pp/5p2/4p3/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKB1R

Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6
ECO code: C40
Parent: King's Knight Opening
Responses: 3. Nxe5
Category:Book:Chess Opening Theory#1.%20e4/1...e5/2.%20Nf3/2...f6%20

2...f6? · Damiano defence

Seeing the threat of Nf3, Black imagines they can protect their e pawn with 2...f6?. Unfortunately, f6's protection is only that: imaginary.

3. Nxe5 snaps off the pawn and opens up White's queen. Then if 3...fxe5? the typical refutation is 4. Qh5+! g6 5. Qxe5+ forking the king and Black's rook on h8.

Black can set a trap with 3...Qe7, hoping that White only half-remembers the refutation and proceeds 4. Qh4+? anyway, but this time 4...g6 and White has nowhere to go. (5. Nxg6 Qxe4+ 6. Be2 Qxg6 and Black is up a knight for a pawn.) Instead White should simply retreat the knight and give back the pawn, and be happy with their development lead. 4. Nf3 Qxe4 5. Be7±

History

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13. Be2? in this position gave up Fischer's winning advantage.[1]

The Damiano whose name is saddled with this opening blunder is 16th century chess theoretician Pedro Damiano, who didn't endorse this opening but refuted it and recommended the more reputable 2...Nc6 instead. More flattering would be to call the reply 3. Nxe5! Damiano's gambit instead.

Damiano is not the only chess legend to be tarred by association with this opening however. Bobby Fischer only drew to this opening as White in a simul in 1964. His opponent Robert McGregor played the 3...Qe7 line, which Fischer navigated correctly but he misplayed his advantage in the middle game and had to settle for a draw.[1]

The Damiano defence is an instructive illustration of the weakness of the e8-h5 and e1-h4 diagonals. As Ben Finegold instructs us, "Never play f6/f3." It is hyperbole to say never, but good practice to always think twice, three times before one does―and especially if one's king is still in the centre.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation. Category:Book:Chess Opening Theory#1.%20e4/1...e5/2.%20Nf3/2...f6%20

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6

34567
Damiano defenceNxe5
fxe5?		Qh5+
g6		Qxe5+
Qe7		Qxh8
Qxe4+		Kd1
Ne7		+-
...
...		...
Ke7		Qxe5+
Kf7		Bc4+
d5		Bxd5+
Kg6		+-
...
Qe7		Nf3
Qxe4+		Be2
d5		O-O
Ne7		Nc3
Qe6		±

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References

  1. 1 2 Monokrousso, Dennis (2005-04-05). "Bobby Fischer and Damiano's Defense". Dennis M's Chess Site. Retrieved 2025-05-16.


v · t · e
Chess Opening Theory
1. e4
1...e5 · Open
2. Nf3
With 2...Nc6:
Four knights: (
)
Italian game: (
)
Spanish game: (
)

With other 2nd moves:
2. Other

1...c5 · Sicilian
2. Nf3 · Open Sicilian
With 2...Nc6:

With 2...d6:

With 2...e6:

With other 2nd moves:
Anti-Sicilians
1... other
Caro-Kann
French
Other


1. d4
1...d5 · Closed
2. c4
2. Nc3
2. other
1...Nf6 · Indian
2. c4
With 2...e6:

With 2...g6:

With other 2nd moves for Black:
2. Nf3
2. other
1... other
Flank
Unorthodox
Category:Book:Chess Opening Theory#1.%20e4/1...e5/2.%20Nf3/2...f6%20
Category:Book:Chess Opening Theory