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Opening of the Week #9: King's Gambit

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King's Gambit

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This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

The King's Gambit is a chess opening that begins:

1. e4 e5
2. f4

White offers a pawn to divert the Black e-pawn and wants to build a stronger center with d2-d4. Theory has shown that in order for Black to maintain the one pawn advantage, moves must be made that seriously weaken the position of the black pieces. King's Gambit is one of the oldest documented openings as it was examined by the 17th century Italian chess player Giulio Polerio.[1] It is in an older book by Luis Ramirez de Lucena.[2] The King's Gambit is now rarely seen at the master level. Black can obtain a reasonable position by relinquishing the extra pawn at a later time and consolidating defensively.

Contents

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[edit] History

The King's Gambit was one of the most popular openings for over 300 years, and has been played by many of the greatest players, and in many of the greatest brilliancies, including the Immortal Game. Nonetheless, players have held very divergent views on it. François-André Danican Philidor (1726-95), the greatest player and theorist of his day, wrote that the King's Gambit should end in a draw with best play by both sides, stating that "a gambit equally well attacked and defended is never a decisive [game], either on one side or the other."[3] Writing over 150 years later, Siegbert Tarrasch, one of the world's strongest players in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, pronounced the opening "a decisive mistake" and wrote that "it is almost madness to play the King's Gambit."[4] Similarly, future World Champion Bobby Fischer, after losing to a King's Gambit played by another future World Champion, Boris Spassky, at Mar del Plata 1960, wrote a famous article, "A Bust to the King's Gambit!" in American Chess Quarterly, in which he stated, "In my opinion the King's Gambit is busted. It loses by force."[5] He claimed his Fischer Defense (3. ...d6) was a refutation, and concluded "Of course white can always play differently in which case he merely loses differently." Despite this, Fischer played the King's Gambit himself in three subsequent tournament games, winning all of them.[6] The King's Gambit has been rare in Grandmaster play since, although it is still used by players such as Joseph Gallagher, Nigel Short, and Alexei Fedorov. Alexander Morozevich, one of the world's top players, used to play it, but has since been quoted as saying, "Previously I would blunder a pawn with 2.f4? exf4, but now I have grown up."[7]

[edit] Variations

Black must decide whether or not to accept the gambit. Since White cannot easily regain the pawn if Black accepts, the King's Gambit Accepted is more common than the King's Gambit Declined. There are several variations of each.

[edit] King's Gambit Declined

Black can refuse the offered f-pawn, or offer a countergambit, although it is considered best for Black to accept the gambit.

[edit] Falkbeer Countergambit

The Falkbeer Countergambit runs 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4, in which Black sacrifices a pawn in return for quick and easy development. It was once considered good for Black and scored highly, but White obtains some advantage with the response 4.d3!

[edit] Nimzowitch Countergambit

A more modern interpretation of the Falkbeer is 2...d5 3 exd5 c6!?, as advocated by Aron Nimzowitsch. Black is not concerned about pawns and aims for early piece activity. White has a better pawn structure and prospects of a better ending. The main line continues 4. Nc3 exf4 5. Nf3 Bd6 6. d4 Ne7 7. dxc6 Nbxc6.

[edit] Classical Defence

A common way to decline the gambit is with 2. ..Bc5, the "classical" KGD (King's Gambit Declined). The bishop prevents White from castling and is such a nuisance that White often expends two tempi to get rid of it, moving the queen's knight to c3 and then to a4 only to exchange it on c5, whereupon he may castle without worry. It also contains an opening trap for novices: if White continues with 3.fxe5?? Black continues 3...Qh4+, in which either the rook is lost (4.g3 Qxe4+, forking the rook and king) or White is mated (4.Ke2 Qxe4#). The opening is generally considered to give white too much space in the center after continuations like 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 or 5.fxe5, and so is no longer played frequently despite being very popular in the 19th century.

[edit] Other Moves

Other declined options are possible though unusual, such as the sharp countergambit 2...Nc6 3.Nf3 f5, advocated by Tony Miles; 2...d6, when after 3.Nf3, best is 3...exf4 transposing to the Fischer Defense (though 2...d6 invites white to play 3.d4 instead); and 2...Nf6 3.fxe5 Nxe4 4.Nf3 Ng5! 5.d4 Nxf3+ 6.Qxf3 Qh4+ 7.Qf2 Qxf2+ 8.Kxf2 with a small endgame advantage, as in a game between Bobby Fischer and Robert Wade. The greedy 2...Qf6 (known as the Norwalde Variation), intending 3...Qxf4, is known but considered very dubious. Also dubious is the Keene Defense: 2... Qh4+ 3. g3.

[edit] King's Gambit Accepted

As stated above, Black best accepts with 2...exf4. White then has two main continuations: 3.Nf3, the King's Knight Gambit is the most common as it develops the knight and blocks 3... Qh4+; and 3.Bc4, the Bishop's Gambit, where White's development will rapidly increase after 3... Qh4+!? 4. Kf1 followed by 5. Nf3, driving the queen away and gaining a tempo, however, most modern players will not bring out the queen. There are also many other third moves, such as:

  • 3. b3?!- the Orsini Gambit
  • 3. Nc3- the Mason Gambit, the Keres Gambit, the Parnu Gambit, or the Requena Gambit
  • 3. d4- the Villemson Gambit or Steinitz Gambit
  • 3. Bb5- the Shurig Gambit
  • 3. Be2- the Lesser Bishop's Gambit or Tartakower Gambit
  • 3. Qe2- Basman's Gambit
  • 3. Qf3- the Breyer Gambit, Hungarian Gambit, or Carrera Gambit
  • 3. Qg4- the Dodo Gambit
  • 3. Qh5?!- the Carrera Gambit
  • 3. g3?!- the Gaga Gambit
  • 3. Ne2- the Paris Gambit
  • 3. h4- the Stamma Gambit or Leonardo Gambit
  • 3. Nh3- the Eisenberg Gambit
  • 3. Kf2?!- the Tumbleweed Gambit, Drunken King, or King's Own Gambit. This allows 3... Qh4+ 4. g3 fxg3+ 5. Kg2. It seems that White has given up two pawns for nothing, but Black must proceed cautiously, or White can use the many open lines with surprising effectiveness.

 

[edit] Classical Variation

The Classical Variation arises after 3.Nf3 g5, when there are two main continuations, 4.h4 (the Paris Attack), and 4.Bc4. After 4.h4 g4 White can choose between 5.Ng5 or 5.Ne5. 5.Ng5 is the Allgaier Gambit, intending 5...h6 6.Nxf7, but is considered dubious by modern theory. Stronger is 5.Ne5, the Kieseritzky Gambit, which is relatively positional in nature. It was used very successfully by Wilhelm Steinitz, and was used by Boris Spassky to beat Bobby Fischer in a famous game at Mar del Plata 1960. This motivated Fischer into developing his own defense to the King's Gambit - see "Fischer Defense" below.
Instead of 4.h4, the extremely sharp Muzio Gambit arises after 4.Bc4 g4 5.0-0!? gxf3 6.Qxf3, where White has gambitted a knight but has three pieces all bearing down on black's pawn on f7, his greatest weakness. Such wild play is rare in modern chess, but black must be very careful to consolidate the knight. Black can avoid the Muzio by meeting 4.Bc4 with 4...Bg7 and ...h6.

[edit] Becker Defence

The Becker Defense (3. Nf3 h6) has the idea of creating a pawn chain on h6, g5, f4 to defend the f4 pawn while avoiding the Kieseritzky Gambit; Black won't have to play ...g4 if White undermines the chain with h4. The line continues with 4. d4 g5 5. Nc3 d6 6. g3! - breaking the chain before it becomes a threat.

[edit] Bonsch-Osmolovsky Defence

he rarely-seen Bonsch-Osmolovsky Defense (3. Nf3 Ne7) was played by Mark Bluvshtein to defeat former World title finalist Nigel Short at Montreal 2007.

[edit] Cunningham Defence

The Cunningham Defense (3. Nf3 Be7) is black's most aggressive option; it can permanently prevent white from castling after 4.Bc4 Bh4+ 5.Kf1 (else the wild Bertin Gambit, or Three Pawns' Gambit, 5.g3 fxg3 6.0-0 gxh2+ 7.Kh1.) However, nowadays it is more common for black to simply play 4. ..Nf6 5.e5 Ng4, the Modern Cunningham.

Schallopp Defence

The Schallopp Defense (3. Nf3 Nf6) - intending 4.e5 Nh5, holding onto the pawn - is considered somewhat inferior[citation needed] and is rarely played today. In one of the lines, white can usually obtain a crushing offense via a romantic rook sacrifice, ie 4.e5 Nh5 5.d4 g5 6.h4 g4 7.Ng5 Ng3 8.Bc4! Nxh1 9.Bxf7+ Ke7 10.Nc3 (looking for immediate mate at d5, or later via queen at f6) and black appears doomed.

Modern Defence

The Modern Defence, or Abbazia Defense, (3. Nf3 d5) has much the same idea as the Falkbeer Counter-Gambit, and can in fact be reached by transposition from it, e.g. 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 exf4. Black concentrates on opening lines, rather than keeping the extra pawn, fighting for the initiative. It has been recommended by several publications as an easy way to equalize, although White keeps a slight advantage due to his extra central pawn and piece activity.

[edit] Fischer Defence

"The refutation of any gambit begins with accepting it. In my opinion the King's Gambit is busted. It loses by force." - R.Fischer, A Bust to the King's Gambit
As said before, the Fischer Defense (3. Nf3 d6) was created by Bobby Fischer after he was defeated by Boris Spassky in a Kieseritzky Gambit at Mar del Plata 1960. Fischer then decided to refute the King's Gambit, and on the next year the American Chess Quarterly published what Fischer called "a high-class waiting move".
The point is that after 4. d4 g5 5. h4 g4 White can't continue with 6. Ne5, as in the Kieseritzky Gambit, and 6. Ng5 is not recommended either. This leaves the move 6. Ng1 as the only option, when after six moves neither side has developed a piece!
The main alternative to 4. d4 is 4. Bc4, but it is considered inferior.

[edit] Rare Third Moves

The odd 3. Nf3 Qe7 (intending 4.Nc3 d5!) is an interesting surprise weapon, but doubtful if White knows what he's doing.
3. Nf3 Nc6 does nothing to resolve Black's immediate problems, but it is, as the Fischer's, a waiting move.

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Ristoja, Thomas; Aulikki Ristoja (1995) (in Finnish). Perusteet. Shakki. WSOY. pp. 58. ISBN 951-0-20505-2.en.wikipedia.org:King%27s_Gambit"> 
  2. ^ Hooper, David & Kenneth Whyld (1992), The Oxford Companion to Chess (2 ed.), Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-866164-9
  3. ^ Philidor, François-André Danican (2005), Analysis of the Game of Chess (1777) (2 ed.), Harding Simple Ltd., p.67, ISBN 1-84382-161-3
  4. ^ Tarrasch, Siegbert (1938), The Game of Chess, David McKay, p.309
  5. ^ A Bust to the King's Gambit, American Chess Quarterly.
  6. ^ Fischer-Evans, U.S. Championship 1963-64, Fischer-Wade, Vinkovci 1968, and Fischer-Minić, Vinkovci 1968.
  7. ^ Sam Collins, An Attacking Repertoire for White, Batsford, 2004, p. 81. ISBN 0-7134-8910-3.

[edit] Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings

The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings has ten codes for the King's Gambit, C30 through C39.

  • C30: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 (King's Gambit)
  • C31: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 (Falkbeer Countergambit)
  • C32: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4 4.d3 Nf6 (Morphy, Charousek, etc.)
  • C33: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 (King's Gambit Accepted)
  • C34: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 (King's knight's Gambit)
  • C35: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Be7 (Cunningham Defense)
  • C36: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5 (Abbazia Defense)
  • C37: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Nc3 /4.Bc4 g4 5.O-O (Muzio Gambit)
  • C38: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7 (Philidor, Hanstein, etc.)
  • C39: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 (Allgaier, Kieseritzky, etc.)

[edit] Further reading

[edit] External links

Wikibooks
Opening theory in chess has related information at
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