Wow I can't believe this is getting so much attention!!
And whoever said 5... Ng4 is better, is wrong... That would just give back a piece after 6. e5
Halloween Gambit
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the easiest way to prove it's not easy to refute is to crush them as white with it.
Gonnosuke wrote:
Fate must have a sense of humor. If you've ever been curious about how a GM would respond to the Halloween Gambit:
I will certainly be tracking that game!
atomichicken wrote:
Gonnosuke wrote:
Fate must have a sense of humor. If you've ever been curious about how a GM would respond to the Halloween Gambit:
I will certainly be tracking that game!
Damn good game!
May 15, 2009
0
#46
I'll grant you it's probably fun to play this, just like it's fun to play the Traxler. If I were _really_ well prepared in the Traxler, it might even be fun to play it against a higher titled person.
So which is worse?
May 15, 2009
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#47
Wait so you're saying the Halloween is _stronger_? I'm confused because I was asking which is worse. Just clarifying.
Maybe in the world of "sacrificing a piece for a speculative attack where the opponent will probably either decline the piece or give it back with a better game" perhaps it's just better to be white than black.
That makes sense to me.
May 16, 2009
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#48
I use sometimes the Halloween Gambit often in blitz games.The stunner potential is great.I present you a link when i played this gambit on a 5 minutes game,by move 9 white is 3 tempos up!Just then i fail to find some good continuation,the game is eventually won as my opponent blunders badly under clock pressure.I have some ideas of continuation after move 9, but would appreciate suggestions!
http://blog.chess.com/Smartattack/halloween-gambit-failing-to-find-good-continuation
May 16, 2009
0
#49
Thank you for you post Gonnosuke, in fact when i asked for some comments..i was waiting for yours
May 19, 2009
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#50
Gonnosuke wrote: "As much as it pains me to say it, I don't think there's any question that the Traxler is a much more respectable opening than the Halloween Gambit. Black's ability to return the material with impunity is the Achilles Heel of the Halloween Gambit."
Interesting, thanks for your comment. I agree in this sense - the Achilles Heel of the Traxler is white's ability to "only" take with the bishop. That is, according to my book on it, which is very old. Probably written when computers were still in their diapers, so-to-speak.
I'd be interested for the Traxler in a book edited by Rybka III with a foreword by Shredder, an intro by Hydra, and an epilogue by Fritz.
Formatted of course by a human. (-:
I'm no expert on the Halloween gambit, so please tell me if white can do something about this situation, but I think that now, white has a better position, but that the sacrifice wasn't worth it. Tell me what you think.
I will tell you one thing. I disagree with my friend Nakamura_Fan. I've learned in my chess life, there is on such thing as "unsound" for 99% of chess players. Of course, an IM or GM probrably wouldn't recommend (or teach) the Halloween Gambit as a long-term weapon, but if you have positional, tactical, and endgame skills better than your opponent, then you can play any opening with force. And FYI Nakamura, Nakamura has played the Halloween Gambit! Here is an excellent article by His dad
http://www.chessville.com/UCO/CN/PsychologyofGambitChessOpenings.htm
Now of course, his dad is not 2200 + Fide, but 99% of the chess world is not either!
Maybe I am mistaken but I do not think the author is Nakamura's father. He is however a strong player who excels in off-beat openings
I do agree with your statement that what is sound at 2400+ does not necessarily make it unsound at amateur play. I believe if a player understand his opening, the resulting positions, tactics and pawn structures (as long as the opening is not total garbage) he will do well
aansel wrote:
Maybe I am mistaken but I do not think the author is Nakamura's father. He is however a strong player who excels in off-beat openings
I do agree with your statement that what is sound at 2400+ does not necessarily make it unsound at amateur play. I believe if a player understand his opening, the resulting positions, tactics and pawn structures (as long as the opening is not total garbage) he will do well
No. Nakamura_Fan made a post here, the chess.com user.
I don't like this gambit very much. The results for White are not attacks but merely a large centre that could easily become overextended and weak. The centre should be more flexible, in my opinion, and not pushed forward so far. Indeed, with the proper defence I'm almost sure Black is winning this game.
So, with proper play I'm sure White has a forced win in both the KID and the Sicilian, and yet these are very popular for Black. The point is, it is easier said than done to refute an opening.
And also, Against the Nc6 White gets a massive center which he normally trades off for a pawn on d6, which can be worth as much as a piece. And against Ng6, then White get's an attack using the center.
p.s. Don't giev up yet Gonnusuke, we can talk them around.