Aggressive Chess Opening Discussion #1: King's Gambit Series

Today's topic will be about the King's Gambit. Ah yes, the King's Gambit. An opening which white decides to sacrifice his F pawn to gain central control and rapid development. It is an aggressive opening. There are many ways black can play this openings as well. I am very excited to hear some ideas from you guys! For those of you who are new to chess or in general never heard of this opening, here is what it looks like:

I will be posting openings based on the amount there are. As if it was my own opening encyclopedia. Except, everyone gets to share their ideas. I'll make a new post in a couple of days. Cya!

Here is the way you should play King's Gambit as a beginner (edited because I used an old source) King's Gambit: Allagaier Gambit

Hoped it helped

So you go with the knight's gambit. I think this is why some people don't play the knight to f3. Considering the Aggressive g pawn push from black. That's why some people consider bishop c4. Even better is Nc3.

Ah, I see your point.

@ChessPlayer0169 do you play this opening?

@ESMolen No. In fact, I have never played a gambit before. Just studied a video about the gambit like an hour ago. I'm just new to gambits (even though I know what a gambit is)

Ah. Well, king's gambit is actually an exciting opening. There are many famous games played by Grandmasters that would astound you. Although, I don't usually play this opening. As I've said before, I'm only posting this so that people can share their ideas. I'll post an idea from a master's perspective.

The idea behind the King's Gambit is: White sacrifices a pawn to get counterplay and an advantage in development. Black may or may not accept the pawn sacrifice, and this changes the character of the game. The King's Gambit can be divided into four major variations, depending on Black's options.

Interesting

I've always been a fan of the King's Gambit, but never really knew how to play it.

Having some fun with moving the bishop out early. Here's a game.

Actually, in modern times, the main point behind the Kings Gambit is not about counterplay and developmental advantages.  Black has no real problem pieces.

The main point behind the Kings Gambit these days is central domination.  It is more of a positional opening these days when played properly by both sides.  If White can fend off any early attacks by Black and get his pawn back, he will have a big positional plus.  This is why Black rarely goes for lines whose sole goal is to get at White's airy king, and instead hits at White's center these days, which is why 3...d5 is becoming more popular than the old 3...g5 and if 3...g5, 4.Bc4 is now-a-days answered with 4...Bg7 far more than 4...g4.

If Black is not over-zealous and realizes that he doesn't have a mating attack on the White King, and instead contests the center, White has no advantage.

White is just losing in #2, Black has Bd6. There are many videos on the King's Gambit on Youtube that don't instruct the player the go into a lost position on purpose I'm sure (at least not unless you actually think the whole opening loses by force.) More typical play from White would be 5. Ne5 when Black can respond with 5... Nf6 or immediately kick the Knight with 5... d6. I'm pretty sure Black even has other good moves in that position but those two are the main ones. It's one of the main lines so it's pretty big. 5. Ng5 on the other hand just loses a Knight, although it's an interesting Gambit, the "Allgaier Gambit". After 6... Kf7 White has better tries than going pawn hunting with the Queen on her own without developing pieces. White has tried Bc4+, d4 and Nc3 in that position and I'm pretty sure Nc3 is considered best. I don't think White is considered to have full compensation for the piece, but it's a tricky and dangerous line, not like the one from the video... although Paul Morphy does have a win in the line in the video from when he was a kid and his opponent played 7... Qf6 (which should also be winning for Black relatively easily, just not as fast as the text of #2, and indeed Morphy's opponent had many *many* winning moves in that famous game, not like most Morphy miniatures which are of much higher quality.) , but yeah, it's a sideline. White should really play 5. Ne5 in that line and not start sacking pieces just yet... the "Keiseritzky Gambit" ... hm... I feel like most other variations of the King's Gambit are easier for me to spell but post #2 went straight for the tricky ones. (Edit: that video wasn't good theory 11 years ago either if people think that. It's just a bad, clickbaity video.)

Heh. Thx for noticing. I studied a YT vid from 11 years ago! Haha

Yes, that's what I said, but also the Allgaier Gambit can be played better than the text there. If White wants to survey the Allgaier Gambit, white has 7. Nc3, 7. d4, and 7. Bc4 which should all better than going pawn hunting with the lone Queen. (Edit... the comment I just responded to was deleted?)

(response to edit: yes it was.)

Ok, yeah, d4 there is better, can be dangerous. There are a lot of spots like that in the KG most of which may not be entirely sound but can make things very hard for the second player, but in general it takes 2 players to go for them and if Black does go in for it it's possible they also know what they are doing and will just emerge with a winning position. If not, perhaps such old/Romantic lines will be just avoided by the second player in favor of lines like the ones ThrillerFan mentioned.

I think the King's Gambit is practically refuted by the Schallop (3.Nf6).

Here is the aforementioned GM's analysis

http://matthias-wahls.com/the-refutation-of-the-kings-gambit-part-1/

I think all defences to the King's Gambit are good.

But that's never put me off playing it as White

Actually, I'm learning a lot from this forum

"it loses a pawn and weakens the king's position" 😂 

better off playing the Bird's!