The Albin Counter-Gambit: Morozevich Destroys 💥 Gelfand With This Weapon!

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The Albin Counter-Gambit has long been one of the most provocative ways to play for a win as Black against 1.d4. It’s called a “counter-gambit” because Black meets the Queen’s Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4) with their own offer of a pawn, 2…e5!?

When White captures on e5, Black pushes the pawn to d4, causing White some development issues.

In this video – a free preview of his 1.d4 Gambits course – GM Boris Alterman shows how the Albin Counter-Gambit is played at the very highest level by analyzing a game between World Championship challenger Boris Gelfand and attacking genius Alexander Morozevich.

After the initial moves of the Albin Counter-Gambit have been played, both sides start the battle for the center pawns; both to capture the enemy’s and maintain their own. When Morozevich kicks a Bishop back, Gelfand decides to put it on f4, where it’s promptly captured by a Knight. After 10.gxf4, White has doubled pawns and an exposed King. However, White has made it easier to avoid giving back the e-pawn.

A master of attack like Morozevich doesn’t need any encouragement to start a King hunt and he launches forward with 10…g5!, seeking both to undermine the f4 pawn and open the g-file.

As Black’s pieces flood forward, Gelfand tries a tactical sequence to exchange off some of the marauding attackers. However, Morozevich is super-sharp and spots a way to win material with a timely intermezzo. Now the best Boris can do is get a Rook and minor piece for his Queen – and he still has to neutralize the threats down the g-file.

Watch the video to see how things turn out and get real insight into the fighting capabilities of the Albin Counter-Gambit!

If you enjoyed this free preview of Boris Alterman’s 1.d4 Gambits, check out the full course here.