Openings
- Chess Atlas Subsections
- VOL. I • Chess HistoryFrom Chaturanga to Neural Engines
- VOL. II • Classic ChessPieces, Notation & Rules
- VOL. III • Legendary PlayersPantheon of Chess Immortals
- VOL. IV • Great GamesInteractive game studies
- VOL. V • OpeningsOriginal CAISSORA Opening Articles
- VOL. VI • Tactics & StrategyForks, Pins & Board Geometry
Döry Defense
A knight jump to e4 on move two
- Offbeat
After 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 Black plays 2…Ne4: the knight jumps into the centre ahead of the pawns. The move is meant to surprise White and drag the game off familiar paths. In many lines play then settles into quite ordinary structures, so it is more a psychological weapon than a plan for the whole game.
4…d5
Moves
(8 plies • 4 moves)- 1–4moves
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
Defining move
2…Ne4 — a knight in the centre on move two
The move that defines the Döry
The knight on e4 eyes c3, d2 and f2. But it has no support, and White can go after it at once: Nbd2, Nfd2, c4 or e3. Black will have to trade the knight or back it with the d5 pawn.
Tabiya
The knight traded and …d5
The knight that jumped to e4 has been traded on d2, and Black has strengthened the centre with …d5. The position looks like a quiet queen's pawn game. White is a little better developed, and Black must catch up calmly.
White’s plan
- Not fear 2…Ne4: play Nbd2 or e3 and develop calmly.
- Use Black's lag in development.
- Hold the centre with the d4 and e3 pawns (or c4).
Black’s plan
- Back the centre with …d5, or trade the knight.
- Steer the game into an ordinary structure and finish development.
- Hope White goes wrong against the unexpected move.
History
The defence is named after Ladislaus Döry.
Games in the Atlas
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