The Refutation, 4.Qh5+ Ke7 is a variation of the Damiano Defense, catalogued as ECO C40. The line runs 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6 3. Nxe5 fxe5 4. Qh5+ Ke7 5. Qxe5+ Kf7 6. Bc4+ d5 7. Bxd5+ Kg6, reaching the position shown below after 14 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on e4. White is ahead in development, with two minor pieces out to Black's zero. It is White to move after seven moves.
On the Damiano Defense generally: One of the oldest and most dubious defenses. 2...f6 weakens the king and is punished by 3.Nxe5. A great teaching opening.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
All Damiano Defense variations
The Refutation, 4.Qh5+ Ke7 goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6 3. Nxe5 fxe5 4. Qh5+ Ke7 5. Qxe5+ Kf7 6. Bc4+ d5 7. Bxd5+ Kg6. It is a variation of the Damiano Defense and is catalogued as ECO C40.
The Refutation, 4.Qh5+ Ke7 is ECO C40. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Damiano Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6 3. Nxe5 fxe5 4. Qh5+ Ke7 5. Qxe5+ Kf7 6. Bc4+ d5 7. Bxd5+ Kg6 at +3.10 at depth 18, which is a clear advantage for White. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on e4. White is ahead in development, with two minor pieces out to Black's zero. It is White to move.