New Gambit in the Classical Dutch?

Ouwerkerk Gambit: Tricks and Traps

The Ouwerkerk Gambit is a gambit in the Dutch Defense: Classical Variation: d4, f5, c4, e6, g4!?. First of all: this is not a delayed Krejcik Gambit. Here, the e6 pawn is pushed, which opens up the queen on d8 and the dark-squared bishop on f8. There is however one drawback of this move: The c8 bishop is blocked, not allowing them to defend g4 naturally. The gambit is, according to the engine, completely equal, just like in the Staunton (which is also played at the GM-level).

1.1 More ‘’passive’’ continuation: d4, f5, c4, e6, g4, fxg4, e3 (threatening the pawn but blocking in the dark-squared bishop), Nf6 (defending the pawn, while developing a piece), Bg2 (getting the bishop on a strong diagonal), or instead of e3: h3: gxh3, Nxh3, d5/Nf6, and we have a + 0.8 advantage, while being a pawn down. My recommendation would be h3, and will be explained in 1.3

1.2 Ideas: White: Developing pieces normally, taking advantage of the strong queenside, getting rid of the g4 pawn (Black can’t defend), attacking the weak g7 square (when black has castled). Remember: h3 is going to be your first move after black has played something (except for Bb4+). After gxh3, Nxh3, only move for black to equalize is Nc6 (I guess because of the control of d4, and later on maybe e5?), and then you play the normal plan of 1.3. Let’s say the opponent played d5 (which is an excellent move), h3 (not caring at all, allow the sort of Catalan structure with the bishop on g2, and c4 + d4), gxh3, Nxh3: resulting in an excellent position once again: Bd2, Nc3, is the plan: develop normally, expand on the queenside, wait with castling, because you have an open h-file, pointing at the opponents king. Also, keep in mind the move Ng5, attacking the weak e6 pawn. Qc2 (!) is also a great move. H6 (?) loses to Qg6+,

g6 loses to Nxh7 (!! A brilliant move). So you see how tricky this position can be. Also, after d4, f5, c4, e6, g4, fxg4, h3, gxh3, Nxh3, Nf6, e4 (opening up the queens diagonal to h5), Nxe4, Nc3/Bd3 (Bd3 is better, more forcing and attacks the h7-square!), we have an excellent position. I would rather have white. After this variation, we are down 2 pawns, but our advantage is +1 (!), so the computer likes it.

And probably one of the most funny variations. D4, f5, c4, e6, g4, fxg4, h3, Pf6 (?), hxg4, Pxg4 (?), e4 (!), h5, Txh5 (!! Winning back the sacrificed material), Txh5, Dxg4. So remember these ideas: Ng5, Qc2, Bd3, Bg2, e4, focus on the h7 pawn, and try to attack the kingside with an eventual Qh5.

Best move for black to stop white’s plan with Qc2, is Nc6 (because they hit the d4 pawn and you defend it with e3)

Change the plan from Qc2, to Qd3, otherwise you are losing the d4 pawn with tempo.

For white, Nc3 is the best square for the knight, if black then plays Be7, Qd3 (!), still defending the pawn gets the queen on that diagonal and allows the queen to reroute to the kingside with maybe Qg3.

So what is so special about this gambit? This g4 move is so basic right? Well, that’s not the case with this gambit. It’s not unsound, and has been played by good players.

1.3 I will now show the main line:

D4, f5, c4, e6, g4, fxg4, h3. This h3-move tries to open up the king-side, and aims to recapture with the knight, leading to a strong knight, that can maneuver to g5. Black however doesn’t have to capture the h3-pawn. But if he doesn’t, we can capture the pawn ourselves, opening up the h-file for the rook. As I said, Black can’t defend the pawn with the typical d5-move, because the e6-pawn is blocking the bishop.

D4, f5, c4, e6, g4, fxg4, h3, gxh3 (capturing the pawn allows us to recapture the pawn with the knight), Nxh3. Now our plan is simple: e4 (opening up the bishop to come to d3 (That’s the best square with g2), Qc2 or Qh5, Nc3, Ng5. If you can’t play any of these moves, go for a Richter-Rauzer like plan with Qd2, 0-0-0. In this case, f4 is also a possibility. However, the chance in this gambit that you use your c1-bishop is rare, because you will only need him to protect the g5 square.

So now explained in just a few words.

You play g4:

1. To open up the g-file. Whenever they capture on g4, play h3 and always recapture with the knight.

2. To eventually push forward, attacking the knight, so they are basically forced to take the pawn.

3. To capture the pawn on f4, leading to an exposed black king.

Your typical plans are:

1. Play Qc2/Qd3 (Depending on the Nc6 move), Nh3---> Ng5 (Hitting the h7-pawn), Bd3 (Looking at the h7-pawn together with the rook, Queen and knight), Nc3, 0-0-0 (you never castle kingside).

2. If black tries to decline the gambit, you want to play either g5 to kick the knight, or gxf4, to open up their king. But this gambit just needs to be accepted, or you''ll get a lot of activity. Some high-rated players played this, but I have studied it, and played it against several people. The result was in 20 games: 10 wins, 2 draws, 8 losses. The wins were in the middlegame, most draws ended with black having an extra pawn, but I had the open rook file on the h-file. The losses were some minor errors, which gave my opponents enough time to get their king to the queen -side, where they''ll be safe. 

So I'll be pleased to hear your opinion, and if we should make this a real gambit.