Hi!

I've always been attracted to gambits. Right now I am experimenting with the Albin Counter Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5).

I was wondering if you might have a game or two to share. I have many master games (including numerous Morozevic games and the Lasker Trap), but I am looking for other variations of the gambit.

So, if you have a game you would like to share, please post them here or email me.

I should also mention I am writing a book about the Alblin, so if you want your game or analysis published in a book, please let me know that as well.

Thanks and happy King hunting! ;)

Barefoot_Player

melvinbluestone,

3.dxe5 is considered the stongest move. 3.e3 is passive and allows black some easy paths to equality with 3...exd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 to be followed by 5...Nc6. It is actaully stronger to play 4...Nf6 rfirst then 5...Nc6, instead of the other way around.

3.e4 is better than 3.e3, but not as strong as 3.dxe5. By the way, 3.e4 is known as the Spassky variation.

I taught myself enough German to read the chess books in their language. I am not suggesting you do the same, but at the same there is a lot of untapped knowledge to be found.

Hope this helps!

Barefoot_Player

PS - I've never heard of the Lobster Variation but it doesn't seem as strong as some the main lines. Usaully I just try to grab the center and castle queenside.

I have a book on it, Gambiteer 2 by nigel davies. Inspirational rather than complete I  would say; it's one of those books where the author tryes to convince you that white is the one needing care to equalize ;a nice book but nothing more. I don't think it's worth buying for a player which already knows the opening well (by the way only half of the book is devoted to the albin).

Personally speaking, i played the Albin for a while with decent results; however i quickly got really bored since most white players go for the a3 or Nd2 lines(I can't blame them!) leading to a += rather dry queenless middlegame. I have nothing against queenless middlegames, as long as it's not a two-result game where white pushes his small advantage without risk; and this is the case in  the Albin. It's a matter of tastes i guess, but describing the albin as a sharp counter to 1.d4 is rather wrong; due to those lines it turned out to be the most static defence i ever played.

Estragon,

You being a 2400+ player, I would expect a little more than just dismissing a gambit without refering to any analysis or general principles.

Shame on you!

j/king

Rob

The problem with Albin counter gambit is that white can simply avoid it with 2.Nf3 and c4 next move transposes back to Queen's Gambit.Of course white sacrifices some lines where the king's knight goes to e2 but black loses a whole opening.It's good  as a surprise weapon but you need to know Queen's Gambit too.

I like Budapest Gambit a lot(1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5) but has the same problem.

at least this thread has some content for a change...