gambit (very likely unsound)


I prefer black's position at the end because he has 2 pawns in the center while white has none.
The Game Explorer says 5. c3 is the most played move instead of 5. Nc3.

Black also has the bishop pair...
5.c3 is the most common move for a reason. I think it's the best, and I've had some good results. White can play Bf4 and get great development in this line, and if ...Bg4 at some point before white plays Nf3, white has the annoying Qb3.

Yeah. Black can't castle kingside and if he castles queenside the king will not been in a safe spot.
Interesting post.


I was expecting him to play 6rxh7. If that happened then I felt it was a pretty natural game with b-f4, and castles 0-0-0 and n-f3. Whether or not I would be better is definitely another question. BUt, it does seem to be an interesting position.
As for 5. c3 that is normally the way I play the position.
On another noteNow that I look at it again another way to play the gambit would be to play 5.b-c4. I might experiment with this one tonight.

5. Bc4 doesn't work, because after dxc4, the black knight is protected by the queen, so you're just down a piece. As for the gambit overall, I think GreenLaser nailed it with the Rxh7 line, which leaves the black rook on a semi-open file, which is pretty strong, even though he can't castle.
This gambit might work in blitz, and it's good that you're experimenting, but I just don't think it's very strong. I'd never use it in a slow game.
--Fromper

5. Bc4 doesn't work, because after dxc4, the black knight is protected by the queen, so you're just down a piece. As for the gambit overall, I think GreenLaser nailed it with the Rxh7 line, which leaves the black rook on a semi-open file, which is pretty strong, even though he can't castle.
This gambit might work in blitz, and it's good that you're experimenting, but I just don't think it's very strong. I'd never use it in a slow game.
--Fromper
THat should have said b-f4. As to the half open file. White can castle queenside and the half open file is far from dangerous it seems.

hmm...that is horrible. And I like it lol. I have seen something like that on move 2 in a sicilian. I believe it was suggested in an article by schiller.

BirdBrain, It seems to me that after 3. e5 h5 you have to play 4. f3, allowing Black counterplay with c5, Nc6, and Qb6 (or else let the Black Bishop into f5).
vj1, how about showing how play might proceed after White plays the obvious gambit 8. e6?
NM David Forthoffer


I actually found that best after nxd4 was probably n-f3. It actually seems to be a fairly playable position from there...If b-g4 then b-b5+ etc.
And thanks to all. This discussion has been very educational.

i HAVE AN IDEA!
That idea of your was simply the advance varition with f3 ( it normaily is straight back to g6 and then h7)
If you exchange in a caro(i usally dont)the best move is almost always 4)C4 a similar postion to the Queens Gambit but black has the endgame andvatage with an extra central pawn!