Everything About the Rousseau Gambit!

Imagine, your opponent has just played 3.Bc4, entering the dull Italian Game. Do you really want another boring position where you wait until you or your opponent slips up? It doesn't have to be that way, and that is all thanks to the Rousseau Gambit! We enter this tricky opening with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 f5!!

Moving your f-pawn can be risky, especially in the opening. Even so, it can be a good way to try and distract your opponent's e-pawn from the center. It requires very careful play, but can make a seemingly boring opening such as the Italian Game into a tactical and sharp position. Of course, there are some downsides to playing the Rousseau Gambit, such as the weakened diagonal towards your king or a lack in development as Black. 

The Rousseau Gambit Accepted: exf5

 This is the worst approach by White and immediately gives the initiative along with the advantage over to Black.

Black can respond with the powerful 4.e4! which kicks the White knight off its post on f3. After 5.Nd4, a seeming blunder of the knight, it cannot be taken due to Qh5+, preventing the Black king from castling or losing material. White would be winning here. So, we must play the calm Nf6, preventing any Qh5+ ideas, and now threatening to take the hanging knight on d4. After an exchange of knights on c6, we reach the following position, where Black has a desirable position with ideas of d5 and bringing the rook to the semi-open b-file.

Instead of playing 4.e4, we can play 4.d4, which gains central space and attacks the bishop. The f-pawn cannot be defended, as that would lose material after 5.Bc3 d4, forking the White bishop and knight. Instead, White will play 5.Bb5, pinning the knight and threatening Nxe5, to which we respond with Bd6, defending. If your opponent breaks in the center with d4 push your e-pawn to e4, attacking the White knight. In the event of c4, take the c-pawn and enjoy your good position.

 Do not fear any Nxd5 ideas, grabbing a pawn and threatening Qh5+ at the same time, where we simply take the knight. In the case the Queen does deliver a check in this position, simply move your king to f8 where you have a dominant position.

Do not rush to take back the f-pawn, you can do that anytime, as defending it with a move like g4 is bad for White. After 4.d5, there is no time for White to play g4, because Black is constantly attacking and will regain the pawn on f5 the first chance they get. Some example lines after 4.e4 are:

As you can see, to hang on to White's extra pawn, they have given the entire center to Black who also has easy and quick development.

The Rousseau Gambit: 4.d4

This is the best way for White to counter the Rousseau Gambit and secure an advantage early on. Because Black is already down a tempo and moved a pawn instead of a piece, he is behind in development. So, White can counterstrike in the center and try to attack before Black can catch up.

Black has 3 main moves in this position, and let's begin with 4.d6. This move defends Black's large center but allows White to force Black's knights to passive, uncomfortable squares. White plays Ng5 to threaten a fork on f7, forcing the Black knight to h5, and forces the other knight back to e7 with d5. For example:

Another try by Black is fxe4, which takes a pawn on e4 but allows the e5 pawn to be captured. Black can strike in the center with d5, but after the bishop pins the knight on c6, he is left to deal with the bigger issues of his position. White maintains a healthy advantage here. An example line is:

The third move for Black is 4.exd4. After this, White can try Ng5, threatening a fork on f7, to which Black is best responding with Ne5, counterattacking the bishop and preventing a fork. Even so, White will take the pawn on e4 and have a massive lead in development and advantage. An example line is:

The Rousseau Gambit: 4.d3

This move leads to more positional games and is a very solid way for White to play. He will develop his pieces easily and maintain a small advantage out of the opening. Black will develop his knight to f6 and play the position like a King's Gambit Declined with the colors swapped. The only problem for Black and trump for White is the bishop on c4 which prevents him from castling to safety. This is one of the disadvantages of moving the f-pawn before you have castled.

Black will eventually have to decide what to do with the pressure in the center. He can take on e4 to open up the position or keep the tension with f4.

Though White has a small advantage, the position is less than clear at this point. An example line is:

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Rousseau Gambit is a risky way to turn a boring Italian Game very tactical. White can retain an advantage with d4, keep the position slightly better with d3, or accept the Gambit and accept the consequences with exf5. Black plays this gambit for White to accept, but can quickly have a worse position if his opponent does not. 

But, chess is all about having fun at the chess board, and tricky gambits like these can lead to crazy, sharp games. Try this out in some blitz games to see if you like it and catch your opponent off guard!