1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.

f4 e5
var. 1 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.fxe5 6.fxe5 Nxe5 7.Qxd8+ Kxd8
1.1 8.Bg5
1.1.1 8. ... c6 9.0-0-0+ Kc7
1.1.2 8. ... Be6 9.0-0-0+ Kc8 10.Nf3 Bd6
1.2 8.Bf4
1.2.1 8. ... Nfd7 9.0-0-0 Bd6
1.2.2 8. ... Bd6 9.0-0-0 Ke7 10.Kb1 Bg4 11.Be2 Bxe2
1.3 8.Nf3!
1.3.1 8. ... Nfd7 9.Bf4 Bd6 10.0-0-0 Nd3+ 11.Rxd3 Bxf4+ 12.Kb1 c6
1.3.2 8. ... Bd6 9.Bg5 Be6 10.0-0-0 Kc8
var. 2 5.Nf3
2.1 5. ... exd4
2.1.1 6.Nxd4
6. ... Nc5 7.Bd3 Bg4 8.Nf3 h5 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Qxf3
2.1.1.1
Nxd3 11.cxd3 c6 12.Be3 d5 13.e5 Nd7
6. ... g6 7.Bc4 Bg7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Nf3 (9.Re1 Nc5) 9. ...
2.1.1.2
Qe7!
2.1.2 6.Qxd4 c6
2.1.2.1 7.e5 dxe5 8.fxe5 Bc5 9.Qh4 Qe7 10.Bf4
10. ... Ng4 11.Qxe7+ Kxe7 12.Ne4 Be3
2.1.2.1.1
13.Bg3 f6 14.exf6 Ndxf6
10. ... Bb4 11.0-0-0 Bxc3 12.exf6 Bxf6
2.1.2.1.2 13.Qg3 0-0 14.Bd6 Qe3+ 15.Kb1 Qb6 16.b3
Rfe8 17.Bc4 Nc5 18.Ng5 Bxg5 19.Qxg5
2.1.2.2 7.Be3 d5
8.0-0-0 c5 9.Qa4 d4 10.Bxd4 cxd4 11.Nxd4
2.1.2.2.1
Bc5 12.e5 0-0 13.exf6 Nxf6
8.exd5 Bc5 9.Qd3 0-0 10.0-0-0 Qb6
2.1.2.2.2
11.Bxc5 Nxc5 12.Qd4 cxd5
8.e5 Ng4 9.Bg1 Bc5 10.Qd2 Bxg1 11.Rxg1 h5
2.1.2.2.3
12.0-0-0 Nh6 13.Be2 Nc5
2.2 5. ... c6
2.2.1 6.dxe5 dxe5
7.fxe5 Ng4 8.e6 fxe6 9.Ng5 Nde5 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8
2.2.1.1
11.h3 Nh6 12.Bf4
12. ... Nhf7 13.0-0-0+ Ke8 14.Nxf7 Nxf7
2.2.1.1.1
15.e5
2.2.1.1.2 12. ... Ng6 13.0-0-0+ Ke8 14.Bc7
 14. ... Bc5 15.Rd8+ Ke7 16.Rxh8
2.2.1.1.2.1 Be3+ 17.Kd1 Nxh8 18.Nf3 Nh6
19.Bc4 b5 20.Bb3 a5 21.a3 Ra7
14. ... Be7 15.Nf3 Bb4 16.e5 Bxc3
2.2.1.1.2.2 17.bxc3 Nf7 18.Bd3 Nf4 19.c4
Nxd3 20.Rxd3 c5
21.Ng5 h6 22.Ne4
b6 23.Rg3 g5 24.h4
2.2.1.1.2.2.1
gxh4 25.Rxh4 Bb7
26.Nd6+
21.Rhd1 b6 22.Ng5
Ba6 23.Nxe6 Bxc4
2.2.1.1.2.2.2
24.Nxg7+ Kf8
25.Rg3 Rg8
21.Ra3 Kd7 22.Bb6
Kc6 23.Rxa7 Rxa7
2.2.1.1.2.2.3
24.Bxa7 b6 25.Bb8
Ba6
2.2.1.1.2.3 14. ... Bd7 15.e5 Rc8 16.Bd6 Be7
2.2.1.2 7.Nxe5 Nxe5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.fxe5 Ng4 10.Bf4
2.2.1.2.1 10. ... Bc5 11.Bc4 Ke8 12.Ke2 b5 13.Bd3 Bd4
10. ... Be6 11.h3 Nh6 12.Ne2 Bc5 13.Bg5+
2.2.1.2.2
Kc7 14.Nf4 Bd4 15.Nd3
2.2.1.3 7.Bc4 Bb4 8.Ng5
8. ... Qa5 9.Bxf7+ Ke7 10.Bb3 h6 11.Nf3
2.2.1.3.1
Nxe4
8. ... 0-0 9.Nxf7 Rxf7 10.fxe5 Nd5 11.Qh5
2.2.1.3.2
g6 12.Qh6 Nxe5
2.2.2 6.Be2 Qc7 7.0-0
7. ... b5 8.d5 b4 9.dxc6 bxc3 10.cxd7+ Bxd7 11.b3
2.2.2.1 Be7 12.Bd3 0-0 13.Ba3 Rae8 14.fxe5 dxe5 15.Bxe7
Rxe7 16.Qe1
2.2.2.2 7. ... Be7
8.a4 h6 9.Rb1 a5 10.Kg1 exf4 11.Bxf4 g5
2.2.2.2.1 12.Be3 Nf8 13.d5 Ng6 14.Nd4 Ne5 15.Nf5
Bxf5 16.Rxf5 Nd7 17.Qd2 f6
2.2.2.2.2 8.Kh1 exd4 9.Nxd4 Nb6 10.Qe1 Bg4
2.2.2.3 7. ... h6 8.Kh1 exf4 9.Bxf4 g5 10.Be3 Bg7 11.Qe1 Nf8
2.2.3 6.Bd3
6. ... Qc7 7.Ne2 Be7 8.c3 0-0 9.0-0 d5 10.Nxe5 dxe4
2.2.3.1
11.Bc2 c5
 6. ... exd4 7.Nxd4 Nc5 8.h3 Nxd3 9.cxd3 Qb6
2.2.3.2
10.Ne2 h5
6. ... Qa5 7.0-0 Be7 8.Kh1 0-0 9.Ne2 Re8 10.c3 d5
2.2.3.3
11.b4 Qc7 12.fxe5 dxe4 13.exf6 Bxf6
2.2.4 6.Bc4
2.2.4.1 6. ... exd4
7.Nxd4 d5 8.exd5 Nb6 9.Qe2+ Be7 10.0-0
2.2.4.1.1
Nxc4 11.Qxc4 Nxd5
2.2.4.1.2 7.Qxd4 d5 8.exd5 Bc5 9.Qd3 0-0
10.dxc6 bxc6 11.Bd2 Re8+
12.Ne2 Ne4 13.Rf1 Nxd2
2.2.4.1.2.1
14.Nxd2 Re3 15.Qf5 Ne5 16.Qg5
Be7 17.Qh5 Bg4 18.Bxf7+ Kh8
10.Bd2 Re8+ 11.Ne2 cxd5 12.Bb3
2.2.4.1.2.2
Qe7 13.Bc3
13. ... Be3 14.Be5
2.2.4.1.2.2.1 Bb6 15.Bxd5 Nxe5
16.Nxe5 Nxd5
13. ... Ne4 14.Bd4
Bxd4 15.Nxd4 Nc5
2.2.4.1.2.2.2 16.Qf3 Nf6 17.h3
b6 18.0-0-0 Ba6
19.Rhe1
2.2.4.2 6. ... Qa5
7.Ng5 d5 8.exd5 exd4 9.dxc6 dxc3
2.2.4.2.1
10.cxd7+ Bxd7 11.Bxf7+
7.Bd2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Kh1 exd4 10.Nd5
2.2.4.2.2
Qd8 11.Nxe7+ Qxe7 12.Bxf7+
2.2.4.3 6. ... Be7
7.dxe5 dxe5 8.fxe5 Ng4 9.e6 fxe6 10.Bxe6
2.2.4.3.1
Ne5
7.a4 Qc7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Kh1 exd4 10.Nxd4
2.2.4.3.2 Bc5 11.Qf3 Rd8 12.h3 Nxe4 13.Bxf7+ Kxf7
14.Nxe4 Nxe4
2.2.5 6.Be3 Ng4
7.Bg1 exf4 8.Qd2 Qf6 9.0-0-0 Be7 10.Bc4 Qh6
2.2.5.1
11.Rde1 Nb6 12.Bb3 0-0 13.h3 Ne3
2.2.5.2 7.Qd2 Nxe3 8.Qxe3 exf4 9.Qxf4 Qf6
2.2.6 6.a4 Qc7 7.Bc4 exd4 8.Qxd4 d5 9.Bb3 Bc5 10.Qd3 dxe4
The Lion's claw

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.Nf3 e5

var. 1 5.Be2 Be7 6.0-0 c6
1.1 7.a4 h6
1.1.1 8.h3
1.1.2 8.Be3
1.1.3 8.a5
1.2 7.b3 h6 8.Bb2 g5 9.Qd2 Qc7
1.2.1 10.Rfd1
1.2.2 10.Rad1
var. 2 5.Bc4
2.1 5. ... h6 6.0-0 c6 7.a4 Qc7 8.b3?! Nb6!
2.2 5. ... Be7 6.0-0 h6
2.2.1 7.a4 c6
2.2.2 7.h3 c6 8.a4 Qc7

The Lion's head

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.Nf3 e5 5.Bc4 Be7 6.0-0

0-0
var. 1 7.Qe2
1.1 7. ... exd4! 8.Nxd4 Ne5 9.Bb3 c5 10.Nf5 Bxf5 11.exf5 Qd7!
1.1.1 12.Nd5
1.1.2 12.f4
1.1.3 12.Bf4?
1.2 7. ... c6
1.2.1 8.a4
1.2.2 8.dxe5 dxe5
1.2.3 8.Bb3
1.2.4 8.Bg5
1.2.5 8.Rd1?!
var. 2 7.Re1 c6 8.a4
2.1 8. ... a5
2.1.1 9.h3
 2.1.2 9.Ba2
2.1.3 9.b3
2.2 8. ... b6
2.2.1 9.d5
2.2.2 9.h3
2.2.3 9.Ba2
2.2.4 9.b3
2.3 8. ... Qc7
2.3.1 9.h3
2.3.2 9.b3
2.3.3 9.a5
2.3.4 9.Bg5
2.3.5 9.Ba2
2.4 8. ... Qe8?!
var. 3 7.h3 c6 8.a4
3.1 8. ... b6
3.2 8. ... Qc7
3.3 8. ... Nxe4!
3.4 8. ... a5?!
var. 4 7.Be3 c6
4.1 8.a4!
4.2 8.dxe5
4.3 8.Bb3?!
var. 5 7.dxe5
5.1 7. ...dxe5
5.1.1 8.Bg5
5.1.2 8.h3
5.1.3 8.Re1!
5.2 7. ... Nxe5 8.Nxe5 dxe5
5.2.1 9.Qf3
5.2.2 9.Qe2
var. 6 7.a4 c6
6.1 8.a5
6.1.1 8. ... Qc7
6.1.2 8. ... h6!?
6.1.3 8. ... Nxe4?!
6.1.4 8. ... Rb8 9.Qe2
 6.2 8.Ba2
6.2.1 8. ... Qc7
6.2.2 8. ... b6
6.2.3 8. ... exd4?!
6.2.4 8. ... a5
6.2.5 8. ... h6
6.3 8.dxe5
6.3.1 8. ... dxe5
6.3.2 8. ... Nxe5

ion's den
The Lion's den is a variation that follows after 4.f2-f4. White develops a
strong centre by moving three pawns into the centre (d4, e4 and f4).
Often your opponent thinks he is playing against a Pirc variation. Of
course the first two moves are the same. It is also possible that white
thinks 4.f2-f4 disproves the Lion. Even after the strong advance of the
centre pawns the Lion still stands. After exchanging Queens black has a
better position than white. This variation is a good illustration of the
flexibility of the Lion.

1. e2-e4 d7-d6
d2-d4 Ng8-
2.
f6
Nb1-c3 Nb8-
3.
d7
4. f2-f4 e7-e5 Black is not impressed
by white's domination
of the centre and plays
on.
5. d4xe5 d6xe5 If white doesn't take
e5, black has to play
exd4.
6. f4xe5 The pawn is (forcedly)
Nd7xe5 taken by the Knight.

7. Qd1xd8+ White thinks it has an

Ke8xd8 advantage because
black cannot castle
anymore.
8. Bc1-f4 Bf8- White prepares for
d6 castling on the
Queen's side and
attacks the Knight.
Bd6 is better than
Nfd7 because white
can't play Nf3
anymore (Nxf3+ and
gains a piece). If white
plays 8.Nf3 you can't
take the Knight
because e4 needs
extra guarding.
9. 0-0-0 Kd8-e7 Black can also play Bd7
or Nd7 but castling is
better because of the
threat of Nd3+ and
white loses the
bishops pairing.

10.Kc1-b1 Bc8-g4
11. Bf1-e2 Black controls square
Bg4xe2 e5 and pressures
white's isolated pawn
at e4. This pawn keeps
white busy. Also
black's King has a
better position for the
endgame
 ion's claw
The Lion's claw is the favorite variation of The Lion. It is the most
agressive and least predictable variation. Black prepares for a solid
attack on the kingside. Black's moves are always the same. Black wins
many tempi and moves his Queen's Knight to the ideal square: f4. Black
doesn't castle. White usually reacts by (incorrectly) sacrificing his
Bishop or weakening his kingside. That is the moment when the Lion's
claw reaches for the white King's throat. You gotta love it...

1. e2-e4 d7- If white starts with

d6 d4 (or c4, Nf3, b4
etc) that's also fine.
d2-d4 Ng8-
2.
f6
Nb1-c3 Nb8-
3.
d7
4. Ng1-f3 e7- White doesn't play
e5 f4 and focuses on the
centre.

5. Bf1-c4 h7-h6 I like to play h6 here

because I don't want
white's Bishop to pin
my Knight at f6. You
can also play Be7 or
c6.
6. 0-0 c7-c6 This pawn move has
two goals: to defend
d5 against Nd5 and
to prepare the
attacking b5.
7. a2-a3 Qd8-c7White has to respond
with a3 (or a4 or
Bb3) because
otherwise b5 follows.
After Bb3 comes b4
and the Knight has to
be moved, leaving e4
unguarded and white
loses this centre
pawn.
8. Bc1-e3 Bf8- White is starting to
e7 lose grip on the game.
He doesn't know
where to attack
because black
doesn't castle and
therefore centres his
pieces. If white takes
e5 you of course take
it back with d6.
9. Qd1-e2 Nd7- Black has nothing to
f8 fear and moves his
Queen's Knight via
f8-g6 to f4 where
there is a beautiful
square waiting for
him. If white plays d5
don't take it. Let
white take your c-
pawn and take it back
with b7.
10.Ra1-d1 g7-g5 Black starts his
attack. Now white
begins to panic and
starts to clear the
centre (dxe5). Just
take it back with your
pawn and the open d-
line is no threat for
black. If white plays
10.Nh4 you react
with g6 (and then g6-
g5) and another
tempo is won.
11. h2-h3 Nf8-g6 White has to make
this move because he
has to get his Knight
to h2. This of course
weakens his kingside.
If white doesn't have
a Bishop on c4 the
black Knight can also
go to e6 (=a bit
better).
12.Nf3-h2 Ng6- The black Knight is
f4 where he is supposed
to be. White has to
take it with his
Bishop because it is
too dangerous. If
white doesn't move
his Knight (to h2) you
can consider a pawn
sacrifice (g4).
13.Be3xf4 You can also take f4
g5xf4 back with your e-
pawn so your Queen
is more involved in
the game. I believe it
is a little unsafe
because it leaves the
black King a bit
unguarded. Taking f4
with g also has the
benefit of opening
the g-line for the
Rook.

After this black can expand his domination by setting the half-open g-
line with his Rook. After playing the Queen's Bishop black can castle and
draw his other Rook into the game. Often you can plan a good attack with
the g- and h-pawn. Meanwhile the white pieces can view from the centre
how their kingside is being cleared away. I think this variation is
particularly suitable for beginning chess players or beginning Lion's
players because it is easy to play and very instructive for it's strategy.
This variation is also very suitable for rapid- and bullet games.