Key King of the Hill Openings: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit
Most King of the Hill players know this opening fairly well. Most players just don't know the name of it, so it sounds like you dont know it. Today i will be breaking down this opening in King of the Hill. This gambit starts from the kings pawn opening and is played as black.
You have probably seen this opening several times, and although it is uncommon compared to Qxd5, it is blacks safest response. If white accepts this gambit black is simply ahead in development, and if white does not and places knight to c3, the most common choice, black is also in a fairly good position. A game from this gambit accepted should play out like this if both sides play good moves.
The game is even so this gambit it not risky for black so it can be safely played to avoid disaster with Qxd5, which is not a good move for black. To show the effectiveness of this gambit, i will show a of mine where i used the gambit too win the game.
Now, what will the game look like if black does not play this gambit?
Because this game rarely will go to blacks favor, it is important you know this opening.
Now we will talk about blackburne-kloosterboer declined games.
After black plays c5, whites best move is d4, returning the pawn. But i have found that white almost always plays Nc3.
Black can simply capture the pawn and white then black will play d4. However it is import to know what to do if white plays d4 before Nc3.
This is a typical position form the declined version of this gambit. White is slightly ahead but this should not hurt black.
Now that you know the idea behind the Blackburne-Kloosterboer gambit you are ready to play this opening in King of the Hill games.
