Borg Defense · B00

Borg Gambit, after 1. e4

1. e4 g5 2. d4 Bg7

Black's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal.

The first 4 moves, explained

• 1. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 1... g5 Opens the f8-h6 diagonal for the bishop. Theory calls this the Borg Defense.
• 2. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 2... Bg7 Fianchettoes the bishop onto the long diagonal, pressuring d4 and e5 from a distance. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Borg Gambit: development and initiative over material.

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