Coffeehouse chess anyone ?

There is a long tradition of coffeehouse chess.

You could see chess in public places, like coffee houses and bars. Also chess played in Washington Park or Bryant Park in NY, in Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris , in the famous restaurant Simpson's in the Strand in London. 

Is the tradition still alive ? yes check out Moscow https://club.worldchess.com/

Now the chess associated with coffeehouse players tends to be something played for the crowds.

Coffeehouse chess: A style of chess characterized by bold and risky but often inaccurate play of a kind popular in coffeehouses in the 19th century

Not necessarily sound but like a gambit or a speculative play but typically played in a blitz or bullet game. Also pleasing if leading to a quick win ! In 2020 chess moved online and the Stafford Gambit became popular. Dare I say Bongcloud ?

There are even books about openings coffehouse style. 2 volumes by GM Gawain Jones, here's Volume 1 link if you are interested (I haven't got a chance to buy or read ). https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/products/1/396/coffeehouse_repertoire_1e4_volume_1_by_gawain_jones/

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Here the chesscorner64's blog repertoire for White using 1.e4

A Again the Sicilian 

definitely the Grand Prix Attack

Position after 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4

For White, the plan is develop the bishop to c4 or b5, and play f4-f5. Black can either play ..e6 or..g6, depending on where Black develops the Bishop. 

B Again the Caro-kann 

a sideline of course 1 e4 c6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Qf3!?

the idea is to develop the white bishop on c4, then castle and have more space and initiative. Also avoiding theory.

C Again the french 

the idea is to play an advance variation but to sacrifice the d4 pawn.

Like Carlsen did in 2020 

Or like in the following line

or like Daniel Narodistky does in Blitz on chess.com

in all cases White won! you give up a pawn but Black is not familiar with the set-up and you are launching an attack thanks to your quick development. is the gambit sound ? unclear compensation but can your opponent prove it ?

D Again 1..e5 

Historically Coffeehouse players would go for 2.f4 the King's Gambit or 2.d4 the Center Gambit.

but maybe there are other ways to proceed without entering the Ruy Lopez and the Italian.

4.g3 would be something Black rarely prepares for.

or the Vienna

or 3.g3!? against 2..Nc6

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

in an another post, I could show interesting games played in A,B,C and D set-ups.