Englund Gambit | AMAZING OPENING!
#englundgambit #openingtactics
This was a Team Australia Tournament match that demonstrates the RIDICULOUSNESS of how one mistake in the Englund Gambit can result in a CRUSHING dominant position from the opening!
We had the Englund Gambit Accepted (1. d4 e5 2. dxe5) and then the usual beginning of the trap line with the "Killer Queen" giving a triple fork with check on move 4 (2... Nc6 3. Nf3 Qe7 4. Bf4 Qb4+). White correctly blocks with a backwards bishop move and I take the b-pawn (5. Bd2 Qxb2). Every move up to this point from White has been the best move.
But then comes the trap! The entirely natural looking, no, EXCELLENT looking move (6. Bc3) which seemingly provides x-ray defence of the rook in the corner with everything defended is a drastic blunder [-5]. If you're not aware of this, it's extremely hard to see!
The next 11 moves is DEVASTATING for White. At the end of the sequence, White is left with four remaining pawns, all split, the king bongclouded on e2, is down 5 points of material and a full piece. White has no compensation.
My opponent is probably at least as strong as me (they were higher rated in daily and beat me on the rematch) and managed to defend their position for almost another 30 moves before resigning having lost their final piece. GG!
The big takeaway from this game is to definitely try the Englund Gambit. Yes, it's a bit dodgey and no good once you get into middle/upper intermediate. However, it's a super fun way of smashing 1. d4!
Game on chess.com: https://www.chess.com/game/daily/543906593
