Answers.Body: <p>White is enjoying a space advantage in the center, but not anymore after <strong>...Nxe4</strong>. It would be the &quot;equivalent&quot; of playing a ...d5 push, which unfortunately doesn't work in this position.</p>
  <p>White can reply to <strong>1...Nxe4</strong> with either <strong>2.Nxe4 d5 3.Bd3 dxe4 Bxe4</strong>, which would leave Black with an at least equal position, or with <strong>2.Bxf7+ Rxf7 3.Nxe4</strong> which would allow Black to start putting pressure on the center (let's think of moves like ...Nc6 and ...e5 for instance)</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2021-05-10T12:10:01.487Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2021-05-10T13:23:56.513Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2021-05-10T13:23:56.513Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: David
Answers.Body: <p>Pirc in considered an inferior opening for black mainly because white gets more space and centre control. After Nxe4 Nxe4 d5 Bd3 dxe4 Bxe4, one pair of knights is exchanged, which negates the space advantage a bit (fewer pieces on the board, so space is less important). Moreover, the resulting pawn structure is what can be obtain from the Scandinavian, but white has no development advantage (as he usually gets in the Scandinavian). White centre can later be challenged by c5 or e5. So basically, by allowing this, white loses everything which is responsible for the typical + for him in the Pirc. I would not unequivocally say that black is better in this line (white should be able to equalize), but allowing this is certainly not in white's interests.</p>
  <p>And of course, Bxf7+ Zwischenzug is just bad, as black gets two bishops and utter control over light squares eventually.</p>
  <p><strong>Update:</strong> Because my last statement turned out to be controversial, I checked the lichess database (2200+) of this exact position after Nxe4.</p>
  <p>Nxe4: played 13 times, 38% 1-0, 31% =, 31% 0-1 (+5=4-4).</p>
  <p>Bxf7+: played 6 times, 17% 1-0, 33% =, 50% 0-1 (+1=2-3).</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2021-05-10T14:33:40.203Z
Answers.Text: "Pirc in considered an inferior opening for black" - I'm sorry, but if it's good enough for Grischuk and Kramnik amongst others  it's good enough for me
Answers.UserDisplayName: Ian Bush
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Answers.CreationDate: 2021-05-10T14:52:32.063Z
Answers.Text: @IanBush Please note I'm not saying that it is outright losing though. Even inferior openings are ok to play occasionally, I'm telling this as a Scandi player myself :)
Answers.UserDisplayName: sleepy
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Answers.Text: Bxf7+ is not bad at all and should probably be considered the mainline in this position.
Answers.UserDisplayName: David
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Answers.Text: @David hmmm why are you willing to give up two bishops so easily?
Answers.UserDisplayName: sleepy
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Answers.Text: @sleepy I don't want, but keeping the bishop pair will make White lose several tempi (Bd3, Bxe4 and later some other move after Black puts a knight on f6. It would also be nice to attack the left-behind "e" pawn on the open file.
Answers.UserDisplayName: David
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Answers.Text: @David I updated my post with stats. It's not that white is behind in development though; Black has also wasted a few tempi (d7-d6-d5) and Ng8-f6xe4. Say, Bxe4 Nd7, 0-0 Nf6, Bd3. The bishop on d3 is a bit silly I agree, but it is better than without it at all. c5 probably equalizes somewhere here, but that's what you get for sloppy opening play.
Answers.UserDisplayName: sleepy
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Answers.Text: Just for the record: any sensible instead of Bc4: +0.3 to +0.5, Bc4 and Bxf7+: -0.5 to -0.7, Bc4 and Nxe4: -0.3 to -0.5. Also note that the Nxe4 trick can be played in a lot of other openings.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Hauke Reddmann
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Answers.LastEditDate: 2021-05-11T12:47:49.357Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: sleepy
Body: <p>In the following position, Bc4 by white is evaluated as a bad move that can be punished by ...Nxe4.</p>
  <p>Although I can see why it tactically works, I fail to see how the resulting position favors black. Do you have any insights about why it's better for black, and what are the plans that follow ...Nxe4?</p>
  <pre><code>[fen &quot;rnbq1rk1/ppp1ppbp/3p1np1/8/2BPP3/2N2N1P/PPP2PP1/R1BQK2R b KQ - 1 0&quot;]
  
  1...Nxe4 2.Nxe4 (2.Bxf7+ Rxf7 3.Nxe4) d5 3.Bd3 dxe4 4.Bxe4
  </code></pre>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2021-05-11T08:35:27.613Z
Comments.Text: In opening theory, white's goal is an advantage, black's goal is (eventual) equality. If this position is already equal then Bc4 was letting black get equality too easily.
Comments.UserDisplayName: RemcoGerlich
Tags: <opening><pirc-defense>
Title: Why does black gain from this "center fork trick"?
ThreadText: # Why does black gain from this "center fork trick"?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2021-05-10)
  
  In the following position, Bc4 by white is evaluated as a bad move that can be punished by ...Nxe4.
  
  Although I can see why it tactically works, I fail to see how the resulting position favors black. Do you have any insights about why it's better for black, and what are the plans that follow ...Nxe4?
  
  ```
  [fen "rnbq1rk1/ppp1ppbp/3p1np1/8/2BPP3/2N2N1P/PPP2PP1/R1BQK2R b KQ - 1 0"]
  
  1...Nxe4 2.Nxe4 (2.Bxf7+ Rxf7 3.Nxe4) d5 3.Bd3 dxe4 4.Bxe4
  
  ```
  
  **Tags:** opening, pirc-defense
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: In opening theory, white's goal is an advantage, black's goal is (eventual) equality. If this position is already equal then Bc4 was letting black get equality too easily.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2021-05-10. Score: 10 | Accepted answer
  
  Pirc in considered an inferior opening for black mainly because white gets more space and centre control. After Nxe4 Nxe4 d5 Bd3 dxe4 Bxe4, one pair of knights is exchanged, which negates the space advantage a bit (fewer pieces on the board, so space is less important). Moreover, the resulting pawn structure is what can be obtain from the Scandinavian, but white has no development advantage (as he usually gets in the Scandinavian). White centre can later be challenged by c5 or e5. So basically, by allowing this, white loses everything which is responsible for the typical + for him in the Pirc. I would not unequivocally say that black is better in this line (white should be able to equalize), but allowing this is certainly not in white's interests.
  
  And of course, Bxf7+ Zwischenzug is just bad, as black gets two bishops and utter control over light squares eventually.
  
  **Update:** Because my last statement turned out to be controversial, I checked the lichess database (2200+) of this exact position after Nxe4.
  
  Nxe4: played 13 times, 38% 1-0, 31% =, 31% 0-1 (+5=4-4).
  
  Bxf7+: played 6 times, 17% 1-0, 33% =, 50% 0-1 (+1=2-3).
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_4**: "Pirc in considered an inferior opening for black" - I'm sorry, but if it's good enough for Grischuk and Kramnik amongst others  it's good enough for me  
  > **username_3**: @username_4 Please note I'm not saying that it is outright losing though. Even inferior openings are ok to play occasionally, I'm telling this as a Scandi player myself :)  
  > **username_2**: Bxf7+ is not bad at all and should probably be considered the mainline in this position.  
  > **username_3**: @username_2 hmmm why are you willing to give up two bishops so easily?  
  > **username_2**: @username_3 I don't want, but keeping the bishop pair will make White lose several tempi (Bd3, Bxe4 and later some other move after Black puts a knight on f6. It would also be nice to attack the left-behind "e" pawn on the open file.  
  > **username_3**: @username_2 I updated my post with stats. It's not that white is behind in development though; Black has also wasted a few tempi (d7-d6-d5) and Ng8-f6xe4. Say, Bxe4 Nd7, 0-0 Nf6, Bd3. The bishop on d3 is a bit silly I agree, but it is better than without it at all. c5 probably equalizes somewhere here, but that's what you get for sloppy opening play.  
  > **username_5**: Just for the record: any sensible instead of Bc4: +0.3 to +0.5, Bc4 and Bxf7+: -0.5 to -0.7, Bc4 and Nxe4: -0.3 to -0.5. Also note that the Nxe4 trick can be played in a lot of other openings.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2021-05-10. Score: 12
  
  White is enjoying a space advantage in the center, but not anymore after **...Nxe4**. It would be the "equivalent" of playing a ...d5 push, which unfortunately doesn't work in this position.
  
  White can reply to **1...Nxe4** with either **2.Nxe4 d5 3.Bd3 dxe4 Bxe4**, which would leave Black with an at least equal position, or with **2.Bxf7+ Rxf7 3.Nxe4** which would allow Black to start putting pressure on the center (let's think of moves like ...Nc6 and ...e5 for instance)
  
  
  ---
  
  