Hey guys, im just wondering about the Danish Gambit. From what I've read, the main line 4. Bc4 and 5. Bxb2 is bad if Black is a good player. I do not doubt that. However, I'm thinking about this line:

1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3

I want to use this line for fast games, as all gambits offer. I like the semi-open files that I have and more mobility as well. What I don't like is if the game continues 4...Bb4. I would have to give up the Knight right after it's development.

If i do not continue with Bd2 or Qc2 then I'd be left with an isolated pawn on the c-file. If i proceed with Ne2 my light Bishop would be blocked.

Also, if the c3 Knight is gone then the Black can attack my e4 pawn easier. Futhermore it may impede useful development since im defending the e-pawn.
I wouldn't want to exchange Queens especially when I'm down a pawn.

From all those considerations, I would continue:

4...Bb4 5. Bd2 Qe7 6. Nf6 Qc2

What do you guys think?

Ah yes the Alekhine variation of the Danish. A little unadventurous.. Usually goes into the Göring gambit.

4. ... Bb4 is the main line option here. The rest should transpose.
5. Bc4 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 d6 7. Qb3 Qe7 8. Ne2 =/+ (Alekhine-Pomar Madrid, 1943) not best play here, Alekhine was playing a simul at the time. As a 2N advocate, the pawn structure looks familiar to me.

A tricky alternative is 5. Qd4, threatening both the bishop and the g7 pawn. 5. ... Nc6? is answered 6. Qxg7, 5. ... Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 is okay for white. The best move for black, believe it or not, is 5. ... Bf8 resulting in a quite balanced position. 5. Bd2 is simply inferior and allows black to catch up.
Ex: 5. Bd2 Nc6 6. a3 Bc5 7. Nf3 Nf6 8. Bd3 d6 9. 9 0-0 0-0
Under other circumstances, this is quite good for white and fairly normal for black. One little problem, white hasn't a c-pawn sitting on c2.

Nope.

In the Danish, the moment you start freaking about about preventing yourself from getting an isolate pawn, you're losing. I mean, you're already down a pawn. You lose the endgame anyway. Who cares if one of your remaining pawns is weak? Plus Bxc3 bc opens the c1-a3 diagonal, and your bishop may find a nice home on a3 (particularly when there's no black dark-squared bishop to oppose it. If he wants to give up a bishop for a night in an open position, you let him.

4. ... Bb4 5.Nf3

Now you'll usually see 5. ... Nc6 6.Bc4 Qe7 7.0-0 with a solid developmnet advantage for the extra pawn.

By playing this way with Nc6, Bb4, and d6, black plays into the main lines of the Goring Gambit accepted. Theoretically, this is fine for black. Practically? You'll score very well from this position, and learn a lot, too. You'll struggle until you break the habit of looking at moves like Bd2, but then your results will skyrocket.