first time hearing of this stafford gambit
Win with Stafford Gambit!
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Stafford gambit is a loss for black if white plays three precise moves check Avetik Grigoryans blog on lichess
what if white plays 6. h3
i used to play this. it stopped working well and now i play other gambits
I have played against the Stafford Gambit 63 times.
I have 84% win rate with the White pieces.
The Killer move is 5.d3
After the move 5.d3, My opponents have only played 2 moves in the position.
5…Bb4+
I had 1 game with 5…Bb4+ which resulted in me winning. As of right now I have 100% win rate against 5…Bb4+ in this position.
5…Bc5
I have 63 games with 5…Bc5 which results in me having:
84% win rate - 15% loss rate - 1% draw rate.
I have 2 continuations I use to play on move 6.
6. c3
I use to play this move because it let me do a timely d4 pawn push shutting out Black Dark Bishop. I thought it was interesting line which players might of not seen.
I have played 5 games with 5.c3 with an 80% win rate + 20% loss rate. (4 Wins - 1 Loss)
6. Be2
Recently, I changed my 6th move to Be2 because I felt the Bishop only has 1 square to develop too. Why move my C pawn to c3 so early? I thought it could be more flexible if I just developed the Bishop to only square it could go. Than leave myself the option to play c3 or even c4 in the future. Also, the Bishop adds another defender to the g4 square. It gives white the option to capture any piece which may land on g4 square. Lastly, the Bishop e2 moves helps white get 1 step closer to castling for King Safety.
The above logic was my thinking process for playing Be2 which seemed to have payed off.
I have played 57 games from this position with 84% win - 14% lose - 1% draw
I have faced a total of 10 different moves for Black in response to 6.Be2.
6…h5 - 34 games with 71% win rate + 21% lose rate
6…0-0 - 5 games with 100% win rate
6…Qd4 - 4 games with 100% win rate
6…Ng4 - 4 games with 75% win rate + 25% draw rate
6…h6 - 2 games with 50% win rate + 50% lose rate
6…Qd6 - 2 games with 100% win rate
6…Nxe4 - 2 games with 100% win rate
6…Be6 - 2 games with 100% win rate
6…Nd7 - 1 game with 100% win rate
6…Bxf2+ - 1 game with 100% win rate
Now you tell me what is Blacks move on move 6?
Sample Game
I did engine check of the game.
White made 1 inaccuracy + 2 mistakes
Black made 2 inaccuracy + 3 mistakes
Unless, you can find or show an improvement. Their is no Stafford Gambit.
It is a Meth. All I see is easy wins. It’s not a chess game.
It’s a slaughter.
Ahhh cool
Compadre_J wrote:
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I have 2 continuations I use to play on move 6.
6. c3
I use to play this move because it let me do a timely d4 pawn push shutting out Black Dark Bishop. I thought it was interesting line which players might of not seen...
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You should discard this one, and keep 6.Be2, or 6.h3. After 6.c3 Black has 6...Nxe4 and things aren't clear at all.
It's probably a matter of taste, but I like as white 5.Nc3 Bc5 6.h3 and preparing queenside castling- when Black has nothing to show for the pawn and white's dominance in the center.
A few years ago, The Stafford Gambit got very popular because of an International Master named Eric Rosen made a YouTube video for beginners on how to play it.
A lot of Chess Players watched the video and began playing it.
At the time, The Stafford Gambit wasn’t really played at all.
You might see 1 game every other month.
It changed to 1 game per day.
In the beginning, I didn’t want to analyze the line because I thought spending time to analyze a line which only got played once every other month wasn’t worth the time investment.
Losing 1 Stafford game every other month wasn’t really going to hurt my chess ranking.
When the line got popular, I decided to invest the time to try and come up with an adequate response so my Chess ranking didn’t suffer so bad.
Losing 1 game every month is a lot different vs. losing 1 game per day.
My main opening repertoire involves the Ruy Lopez which makes the Stafford Gambit almost unavoidable as White.
After 1.e4 e5, It is white to move and the entire reason white plays 2.Nf3 is to attack blacks undefended e5 pawn.
In my mind, if Black wants to keep their E5 pawn, they must defend it.
- Nc6 - d6 - Bd6 - Qe7
Some moves are common ways to defend E5 and some ways are weird, but it doesn’t matter because the point is the pawn is defenseless.
If they don’t defend their E5 pawn, My Knight is taking it. My Knight is a horse of action. It doesn’t believe in bluffing. My f3 Knight doesn’t mess around. Every Serious Knight!
The move 2…Nf6 doesn’t address the E5 pawn issue.
3. Nxe5 - Black has lost a pawn.
Black should play 3…d6 (Like a Russian Game), but they do bad move 3…Nc6 instead.
My f3 Knight already took out e5 pawn. The move 3…Nc6 doesn’t phase my Knight.
4. Nxc6 - White Knight takes out another piece.
The above position is practically forced in my book. The Knight on f3 took out E pawn + took out Knight on c6 + gave Black pawn structure damage. White is winning. Knight on f3 went beast mode in this position.
I thought long and hard in this position. I looked at a lot of different moves. The I came up with is 5. d3. I feel it is the killer move.
When we look at the above position, we can tell White E4 pawn is being attacked. We have to do something or we will lose it.
We can push the pawn to e5.
We can defend the pawn with various moves f3, Qf3, Qe2, Bd3, d3, or Nc3
I went over each move and in the end the move 5.d3 seemed like the most terrifying.
It is interesting reading other players comments.
The OP shows a diagram with 5.Nc3.
Player named Maze also commented to me about the idea of playing 5.Nc3.
It does make me wonder. Did I under appreciate the move 5.Nc3 in my analysis?
The reason I didn’t like 5.Nc3 is because I felt Black had a saving move.
The move 5…Bb4 seems like dangerous move for Black.
I tried looking at this position from each players perspective.
Black is down a pawn + bad pawn structure, but they are attacking.
If I play 5.Nc3 and my opponent plays 5…Bc5, I think White position is great.
However, we can’t “hope” that our opponent plays a move we want them to play.
What if they play different move?
What is Black best move?
Do they have other options?
Black Knight is attacking e4 pawn. White Knight move to c3 is how they planned on defending the e4 pawn. Black Bishop move to b4 attacks the knight which is defending the e4 pawn.
Black is down 1 pawn + Black has Pawn Structure Damage = Black is losing
BUT if they can get 1 Pawn Back or give White Pawn Structure Damage.
MAYBE, Black can weasel their way back to a draw.
This is what I was thinking and why I rejected the move 5.Nc3.
Just to give a sample line I analyzed.
This line sort of shows the dangers I’m talking about.
The position is very sad looking for White compared to how it use to be. White has bishop pair, but it still doesn’t look great.
Instead of White playing 6.Be2, I was wondering what happened if White played 6.d3 in response to 5…Bb4. The annoying move which I saw for Black was 6…Qd4.
The move looks weird, but the idea is the same.
Check it out from Black perspective.
Previously, Black was pressuring the Knight on c3 to attack e4 pawn.
White plays d3 which gives e4 pawn rock solid defense, but now the D pawn is no longer defending the c3 Knight. The move Qd4 double attacks the Knight.
Black plan is to play Bishop takes Knight.
Than when the c2 pawn recaptures Black Queen plans to retake which wins back the pawn for Black + gives White Pawn Structure Damage. It’s the same idea as before. A very annoying Weasel like move trying to recover anyway they can.
I even went 1 move further in my analysis.
I was looking at that position thinking White seems ok, but what is Black plays Ng4?
Wouldn’t they be threading Checkmate on f2?
The line is a total rabbit hole which is very unclear to me.
This is where I more or less gave up on 5.Nc3 and decided to go with 5.d3.
I wonder how many players play 5.Nc3 in this position and have opponents which respond with 5…Bb4. Is it even a move?
Am I just randomly talking about line which doesn’t even exist? It seems scary enough I think.
e4 e5 Nf3 Nf6 Nxe5 Nxc6 dxc6 f3 is the line I play against the stafford, if you want to take a look. The Bb4 idea against Nc3 allows for white to gambit the pawn back, or play d3, Bd2, Qe2, and perhaps castle queenside even.
I will add some lines like 5.d3 or 5.e5
And how to defend Stafford Gambit,
I'll add them
Compadre_J wrote:
This is what I was thinking and why I rejected the move 5.Nc3.
Just to give a sample line I analyzed.
This line sort of shows the dangers I’m talking about.
The position is very sad looking for White compared to how it use to be. White has bishop pair, but it still doesn’t look great.
Instead of White playing 6.Be2, I was wondering what happened if White played 6.d3 in response to 5…Bb4. The annoying move which I saw for Black was 6…Qd4.
The move looks weird, but the idea is the same.
Check it out from Black perspective.
Previously, Black was pressuring the Knight on c3 to attack e4 pawn.
White plays d3 which gives e4 pawn rock solid defense, but now the D pawn is no longer defending the c3 Knight. The move Qd4 double attacks the Knight.
Black plan is to play Bishop takes Knight.
Than when the c2 pawn recaptures Black Queen plans to retake which wins back the pawn for Black + gives White Pawn Structure Damage. It’s the same idea as before. A very annoying Weasel like move trying to recover anyway they can.
I even went 1 move further in my analysis.
I was looking at that position thinking White seems ok, but what is Black plays Ng4?
Wouldn’t they be threading Checkmate on f2?
The line is a total rabbit hole which is very unclear to me.
This is where I more or less gave up on 5.Nc3 and decided to go with 5.d3.
I wonder how many players play 5.Nc3 in this position and have opponents which respond with 5…Bb4. Is it even a move?
Am I just randomly talking about line which doesn’t even exist? It seems scary enough I think.
Nooone can prevent Black playing a few stupid (using your terms: aggressive) moves and achieving a totally lost position.
I found just one game following your "scary" line, which isn't worth analysing- Black played like a beginner. But it does show that the ...Qd4/ ...Ng4 thing is just thin air- white can comfortably defend the f2 pawn and then kick all Black's pieces back.
T
lose with the stafford! The thing about the stafford is that if white knows how to thwart the traps then white wins the opening, ie definition of a gambit. If white shuts down that dark squared bishop and can defend e4 it fizzles out pretty quickly.
That said it is a very good gambit for black and will surely get lots of wins at lower ratings. But opening traps will only get you so far so remember that!
I used to lose to it frequently but now I score pretty well against it as white, and it fits my playstyle much better than the main line of the Petrov.
@Post #13
Maybe, 9…Ne5 in that position?
I never played the Stafford, but most people like attacking with it.
‘Maybe, the moves are artificial, but it does seem more aggressive vs. normal line.
6.Nc3 Bc5 7.h3
Does Black do any attack at all in that line?
I feel like 6…Bb4 at least makes it tricky - their is some pressure for sure.
Hi
Stockfish gives 5 d3 as almost a two pawn lead in total advantage (about +1.75-+1.80). That means the opening is complete garbage for Black and should not even be considered if you actually care about improving your chess game. There is no way that Black can come close to equalizing with correct play, unlike lines where White only has a +0.50 advantage at most, usually in such positions, Black can reduce the advantage and find a way to equalize with perfect play.
All White has to do is study the simplifying and defensive lines after all of the primary moves (5...h5, 5...Be6, 5...Qe7, 5...Bc5 and 5...g6, with ...Bc5 being the most pointed), and then after the primary line after 5...Bc5, 6 Be2 Ng4 7 Bxg4 Qh4 8 Qf3! forces trades and leaves Black wondering why he threw away a pawn.
This opening is no better than the Englund Gambit (1 d4 e5 2 dxe5 Nc6 3 Nf3 Qe7 4 Bf4(g5) Qb4+ 5 Bd2(Nc3) Qxb2 6 Nc3(Bd2) Bb4 7 Rb1 Qa3 8 Nd5! +/-; 6...Nb4?! 7 Nd4 c6 (7...Na6 8 e3 Qa3 9 Bd3 leaves Black with a hopeless position +/-) 8 Rb1 Qa3 9 Rb3 Qa5 10 a3 Nd5 11 Ncb5! +- is no better.
@Post #18
The line you showed looks good.
The line I have been playing is slightly different, but it doesn’t seem any worse.
9.Qe1 is a killer move.
It tries to offer Bishop trade.
It tries to offer Queen trade.
——————
Sadly for Black best play is for Black to do Queen trade.
Any other Queen moves pretty much causes the engine to spike to a +2.3 advantage.
Black pieces simply get pushed back.
Not much compensation really.
Hello, I am under 1000 Elo, so I am noob. But I know many Stafford Gambit's Trap. Up there, It is called Stafford Gambit. Coming from Petrov's Defense. Are you stuck in the same elo? Then Look Below..
1.Main Idea
We can see black checkmates In the early game.
I will analyze myself. Each colour of the move could mean brilliant move(sky) and blunder(red) colour and etc...
4.dxc6 BLACK: By here, it is Stafford Gambit
5. Nc3 WHITE: This protects the pawn
5. Bc5 BLACK: This attacks the weak point, f2
6.Bc4 WHITE: This seems to be develop the bishop but there is a problem with f2 square
6.Ng4 BLACK: This reveals Attack on f2
7.O-O WHITE: This protects the f2 square with Rook and king but this is a mistake because of QH4, This is a very strong move, this move attacks kingside.
7.Qh4 BLACK: This move threats the checkmate on the next move. White must defend. Forces the opponent.
8.h3 WHITE: This move stops the checkmate on the next move but white is worse now.
8.Nxf2 BLACK: This attacks the queen and 3 pieces are attacking the kingside. White is dangerous.
9.Qe2 WHITE: This avoids the queen on attack. BUT THIS FORCES BLACK TO CHECKMATE IN 2
9.Nxh3 BLACK: A strong discovered attack!
10.Kh2 WHITE: then avoids
10.Nf4# BLACK: A checkmate.
2. Nc3
If white plays 5.Nc3, protecting the pawn.
Black can do 5.Bc5 at once.
Then white plays 6.Be2 defends knight coming to g4. Ng4 is a very strong move.
Then black plays Surprisingly, 6. h5 preparing to play Ng4 next move.
Then white castles, thinking they are now safe.
Now black plays Ng4. Attacking the kingside again.
Then white plays h3. Attacking the Black's knight
But white plays, BRILLIANT, Qd6 threatening the checkmate on next move
--Then if white takes our Knight,9.hxg4 That is Blunder. Black recaptures and white can't stop black checkmates.
So white plays 9.e5. What a great move!
--But if black takes the poisonous pawn, Then take the knight, black recaptures. Re1, Pinning the queen so white wins.
Black plays Qd4, attacking the kingside again, white can block this attack, but usually amateur levels, they can't defend this attack.