Mikhalevski’s Sharp games in 5…Ne4 variation of Four Knights Scotch

In case 5…Ne4 variation of Four Knights Scotch sounds like a mix of various buzzwords, this refers to the first moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Nxe4 which seems to be dropping a piece, except for it does not.

Alexander Mikhalevski seems to be among the strongest players who ever tried this line, with mixed results as the following two super sharp games illustrate:

Sutovsky, Emil - Mikhalevski, Alexander
   1994 , C47

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Nxe4 6. Nxe4 Qe7 7. f3 d5 8. Bb5 Bd7 9. O-O dxe4 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Re1 O-O-O 12. Rxe4 Qf6 13. Qe2 c5 14. Nb3 Qb6 15. Be3 Bd6 16. Qf2 f5 17. Rc4 Qb5

Harassing the rook is Black's best hope for counterplay.

18. Rc3 c4 19. Bc5 Bc6

( 19. ... cxb3 20. Bxd6 )

20. a4 Qa6 21. Bxd6 Rxd6 22. Nc5 Qb6 23. Rxc4 Qxb2 24. Re1 Re8 25. h3 Qb6 26. Rxe8+ Bxe8 27. Qe1 Bxa4 28. Qe5 Bxc2 29. Rxc2 Qb1+ 30. Kh2 Qxc2 31. Qe8+ Rd8 32. Qb5

32. ... Rd2 33. Qe8+ Rd8 34. Qe6+ Kb8 35. Qc6

35. ... Qxc5

( 35. ... Qb2 36. Na6+ Kc8 37. Qxc7# )

36. Qxc5 g6 37. Qe7 Rd6 38. Qxh7 a5 39. Qf7 Kb7 40. Qc4 Kb6 41. g4 fxg4 42. fxg4 c5 43. h4 Rd4 44. Qe6+ Kb5 45. Qxg6 a4 46. Qe6 Rd2+ 47. Kg3 Rd3+ 48. Kf4 c4 49. g5 a3 50. g6 a2 51. Qe5+ Ka4 52. g7 Rd8 53. Qb2 1-0

---

Timmerman, Gert - Mikhalevsky, Alexander
   1996 , C47

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nxe4 6. Nxe4 Qe7 7. f3 d5 8. Bb5 Bd7 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. O-O dxe4 11. Re1 O-O-O 12. Rxe4 Qf6 13. Qf1 Bc5 14. Qa6+ Kb8 15. Be3 Rhe8 16. c3 Rxe4 17. fxe4 Bb6

18. a4 c5

Activating the light squared bishop is essential in this structure.

19. a5 Bc8 20. Qc4 cxd4 21. axb6 axb6

( 21. ... dxe3?? 22. Qxc7+ Ka8 23. Qxa7# )

22. Bxd4 Qe7

23. Bxg7

( 23. Qa2 Bb7 24. Qa7+ Kc8 )

23. ... Rd2

In return for the pawn Black gets to activate his pieces, which is always important in positions with bishops of opposite color.

24. Bh6 Rxb2 25. Bc1 Rc2 26. Qa4 Qc5+ 27. Kh1

27. ... Qa5! 28. Qxa5 bxa5 29. Bh6 Bb7 30. Rxa5 Bxe4 31. Re5 Bc6 32. Rc5 Bxg2+ -/+

33. Kg1 Bh3 34. Bf4 Rg2+ 35. Kh1 Rf2 36. Be3 0-1