I am fascinated with this wild and crazy gambit. I would like for you to share what you think Black's best course of action would be. Please pardon me if I don't write in Chessese; I've been playing chess off and on for 30 years, but I've never had any formal training. I think that's why this gambit is so fascinating to me.

You move your pawn to d5, which forks White's bishop at c4 and White's pawn at e4. White answers with bishop takes pawn, which pins your pawn at b7 and protects White's pawn at e4. You move your knight to f6, which clears the way for a kingside castle. White answers with knight captures bishop. Your knight takes bishop, which frees the pin on your pawn at b7 and attacks White's knight at h4. White answers with pawn takes knight. Your queen takes knight, which removes the threat on your pawn at h2. White counters by moving the queen to e2, which checks your king. You move your king to d8, which moves it out of check. White counters by moving the knight to c3. You move your knight to d7. White responds with the pawn to d3. You move your rook to e8, which attacks White's queen. White responds with queen takes pawn, which attacks your queen. Your queen captures queen, which protects your pawn at f7 and forks White's king and White's pawn at c2. White is forced to move king takes queen, which protects White's pawn at c2 and attacks your pawn at f7.

As a result of this line of play, the mobility of your pieces is slightly increased, and the mobility of White's pieces is greatly decreased. Additionally, White's pawn development is not as strong. Also, the pressure on White's King is slightly increased, and the pressure on your King is eliminated.

I like playing this gambit too. I'll tell you why. First, not many people are familiar with it; second, White appears to be at a serious disadvantge and Black usually tries to make something happen out of nothing; third, since not many people even play the Cunningham (the Bertin is a variation of the Cunningham, developed arount 1735) it's a break from the usual King Gambits.

 

Here's a Bertin Gambit played by our own Bill Wall waaaaay back in 1981. Black's reply seems to be main-line, but I don't know for certain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is one played by my dear Paul Morphy against the ever-tricky Henry Bird.  Paul, who is playing 5 Masters simultaneously, takes wild chances in this game and goes into a winning endgame.