icelandic gambit

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KedDuff

center counter / scandanavian , icelandic variation

1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Nf6 3 c4 e6 4. dxe6 4 Bxe6 

what do u guys think of it, is it a good opening why does no 1 play it? 

or any other variations where u dont take back with the queen. PORTUGUESE var.


 englund gambit??


BirdsDaWord
It is a tactical opening.  You don't have either center pawn, but it can be tricky if White isn't careful.  When I used to play 1. e4, I remember facing a computer program that played this line, and it was tricky at times.  You ought to study it well if you consider it worthwhile to use.  The reason not many people use it is that they do not value the sacrificed pawn getting the bishop to e6.  You have to have a good reason to sack that pawn and get the bishop out there.  Maybe from there, Nc6-Qd7 and 0-0-0?  These are ideas to consider, and then attacking White's kingside.
KedDuff

ive played it 5 times and havn't lost a game with it yet.

thats why im wondering why any 1 else dosn't use it, seems powerful to me. 


TonightOnly
I think it has decent potential, as gambits go. The fact that no one plays it is probably just fashion.
Lord-Svenstikov

I play it fairly often. As a person who plays 1...d5 against 1.e4 almost every time I find that sometimes the Icelandic gambit is the only way to play and keep a lead in development.

A quick illastration of the moves already stated for ease of analysis by others.

 

Which sort of lines to others carry this on with?


BirdsDaWord

Now, is the only time you play the Icelandic Gambit is if White plays c4?  I have read that c6 is advantageous for Black in these lines, threatening dxc Nxc with better control of the board.


KedDuff

c6 is another variation instead of e6 forget the name of that gambit line. ive tried it twice, those two were harder games than the icelandic var.

im a tactical player and dont play positionally very well. so i think ive found a great opening for black. 


crikey

i love it when i see white trying to hang onto that d5 pawn because the initiative passes over to black.

a simple trap - which W often falls into - is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

...I would give variations, but it's more fun to discover them for yourself!


BirdsDaWord

This variation looks interesting.  I am going to start a forum on the Bronstein variation of the Scandinavian...If you guys have any ideas there, I would like to hear it.  I'm still looking for that one defense against e4 that endears me, like the Dutch against d4.


cobus

 

I also had a good success rate against weaker players with this gambit. The stronger players do not allow it as they will play 3.d4 and then after 3...Nxd5

4 c4 Nb6 you and up in an Alekine type of position. For this reason I gave up playing the Scandinavian.

 


KedDuff
if 3. d4 i try the portugese gambit Bg4. if they block with f3 or knight black gets a good game. if bishop then h pawn up.
crikey

You are right, cobus. But why allow White to hang onto the initiative with 3...Nxd5?

Play the Portugese variation instead, with  3...Bg4.

Much more interesting


farbror
crikey wrote:

i love it when i see white trying to hang onto that d5 pawn because the initiative passes over to black.

a simple trap - which W often falls into - is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

...I would give variations, but it's more fun to discover them for yourself!


 Please enlightning me! It looks OK for white after, say Qd3 or Nge2.

Maroon_25
[COMMENT DELETED]
Scarblac
KedDuff wrote:
if 3. d4 i try the portugese gambit Bg4. if they block with f3 or knight black gets a good game. if bishop then h pawn up.

The Portuguese is in trouble in the lines after 4.f3 Bf5 5.g4! Bg6 6.c4.

JuicyJ72

3. .. Bg4

4. Bb5+

TenaciousE

One other variation to consider: 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.d4 cxd5 5.Nc3 e6.  This has transposed to a Caro-Kann Defense: Panov-Botvinnik attack (usually arrived at via these moves: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4 c4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6).  People who play the Scandinavian with 2...Nf6 should know this line, and may also want to play it as White against the C-K to minimize study.

As for the main question, 3...c6 is probably objectively better than 3...e6 (Black gets lots of early piece development).  However, 3...e6 is playable by us amateurs, and can lead to some very fun games.

One other interesting transposition...  As White, when I face the Scandinavian, I play this: 1.e4 d5 2.d4!?  This offers the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit.  Of course, black can avoid taking the pawn and transpose to a French Defense (2...e6) or, to complete the circle, to a Caro-Kann (2...c6).