Rejected King's Gambit
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Rejection of the king's gambit with
2.… Bf8 – c5
The Rejected King's Gambit is the name of some of the opening variations in chess . In the ECO codes , they are classified under C30 to C32.
The leader of the black pieces has various options for rejecting the King's Gambit resulting from moves 1. e2 – e4 e7 – e5 2. f2 – f4 .
The most common variants are:
2.… Bf8 – c5 , for example with the further sequence 3. Ng1 – f3 d7 – d6 4. Nb1 – c3 Ng8 – f6.
2.… d7 – d5 3. e4xd5 e5 – e4 , the main variant of the Falkbeer counter-gambit .
2.… d7 – d5 3. e4xd5 c7 – c6 , the Nimzowitsch counter-Gambit.
Classic rejection 2.… Bf8 – c5
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Rejection of the king's gambit with
2.… Bf8 – c5 3. Ng1 – f3 d7 – d6
The classic rejection by means of 2.… Bf8 – c5 is one of the most popular. Typical plans for Black include:
- to tie the knight on f3 with… Bc8 – g4 which can be combined with… Nc6 – d4.
- an early attack with… Nf6 – g4
- the exchange of the c4-bishop for the knight by means of… Nc6 – a5 or… Bc8 – e6
- the advance d6 – d5
The white man's plans include:
- a piece attack on the kingside, especially by means of Qg3, partly also connected with the victim ... Nxc2 which loses the rook a1.
- a pawn storm on the kingside
- Exchange of bishop c5 with Sc3 – a4, followed by c2 – c3 which controls point d4.
Minor variants
- 3. Sb1-c3
- 3.… Nb8 – c6 4. fxe5 is considered favorable for White.
- 3.… Bc5xg1 4. Rh1xg1 is also considered favorable for White.
- 3.… d7 – d6 leads to the main line after 3. Ng1 – f3
- 3. Ng1-f3
- 3.… d7 – d5 leads to chaotic positions
- 4. Qd1 – e2 !?
- 4. Nf3xe5 dxe4 5. Qd1 – h5 According to theory, this is a refutation of the Black pawn sacrifice, since the queen thus prevents… Qh5 + and attacks the bishop c5 and f7.
- 3.… Nb8 – c6 4. fxe5
- 3.… d7 – d6 is the main line
- 3.… d7 – d5 leads to chaotic positions
Main line 3. Ng1 – f3 d7 – d6
White has to decide between 4. c2 – c3 with the idea d2 – d4 and 4. Nb1 – c3 . Other moves are beneficial to Black.
- 4. d2 – d4? with positions similar to the Scottish game (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4) 4.… e5xd4 5. Nf3xd4 Compared to Scottish, the pawn is on f4, but it is not very helpful for White. Black can simply attack the e4 pawn with 5.… Ng8 – f6. 6. Nb1 – c3 0–0 with the threat… Rf8 – e8 which ties the pawn e4 to the king e2. In some variants Black can also sacrifice a piece for the initiative on e4 . Because of the weak diagonal a7 – g1 White also has problems castleing.
- 4. Bf1 – c4 ?! Often goes into positions of the Viennese part .
4. c2-c3
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Position after
2.… Bf8 – c5 3. Ng1 – f3 d7 – d6 4. c2 – c3
- 4. c2 – c3! with the ideas d2 – d4 or Qd1 – b3 (double attack on f7 and b7). But the train neglects development.
- 4.… e5xf4? 5. d2 – d4! Bc5 – b6 6. Bc1xf4 White has recaptured the pawn at speed and set up a pawn center.
- 4.… Bc5 – b6 Black counts on d2 – d4 and withdraws the bishop as a precaution. 5. d2 – d4 e5xd4 6. c3xd4 Nb8 – c6 increases the pressure on d4. 7. Nb1 – c3 f7 – f5 a counterattack on the white center. 8. d4 – d5 with an attack on the knight c6 8.… f5xe4 with a counterattack on the knight f3. 9. d5xc6 ?! is more beneficial for black. Hence, 9. Nf3 – g5 follows, which saves the knight and attacks e4 at the same time. 9.… Nc6 – d4 10. Bc1 – e3
- 4.… Ng8 – f6 with an attack on the e4 pawn and preparation for short castling. The main move is 5. d2 – d4 , but 5. f4xe5 d6xe5 is also playable. The positions are advantageous for White, but very tactical and it is often difficult to find the right continuation. It can follow: 6. Nf3xe5 0–0 7. d2 – d4 with an attack on the c5 bishop. 7.… Nf6 – e4! 8. Qd1 – f3! ( 8. d4xc5? Qd8xd1 + 9. Ke1xd1 Ne4 – f2 + conquers the rook on h1 ) 8.… Ne4 – f6 9. d4xc5 Rf8 – e8 ties the white knight e5 to the king on e1. 10. Bf1 – e2 Re8xe5 11. 0–0.
- 5.… e5xd4 !? The best move. It enables White to set up a pawn center: 6. c3xd4 Bc5 – b4 + (6.… Bc5 – b6 is also playable. And now the simple 7. Nb1 – c3 or 7. e4 – e5, the best move, which is also double-edged and the development is neglected and Black allows more counterplay.) 7. Bc1 – d2 ( 7. Nb1 – c3? Nf6xe4! with an attack on the tied knight c3 ) 7.… a7 – a5 defends the b4 bishop ( 7.… Bb4xd2 !? 8. Nb1xd2 the knight is now defending e4 and White has successfully established the pawn center ) 8. e4 – e5 with an attack on the knight f6 and a better position.
- 5.… Bc5 – b6 It can follow: 6. f4xe5 Nxe4 ( 6.… d6xe5 ?! 7. Nf3xe5 and White has a pawn center without Black's counterattack ) 7. Bf1 – d3
- 4.… f7 – f5 ?! A counter strike similar to the Greco counter gambit ( 1. e4 e5 2. f4 f5 )
- 5. e4xf5 Bc8xf5 theoretically leads to a slight advantage for White, but in practice it is difficult to find the right moves.
- 5. f4xe5 leads to very chaotic positions.
- 5. d2 – d4 White simply follows his plan and sets up a pawn center with an attack on the c5 bishop.
- 5.… e5xd4 ( 5.… f5xe4 ?! with a counterattack on Nf3). 6.Nf3xe5 d6xe5? 7. Qd1 – h5 +! Ke8 – d7 with winning position for White (7.… g7 – g6 ?? 8. Qh5xe5 + and White conquers the rook on h8. 7.… Ke8 – f8 8. Bf1 – c4 with the threat Qh5 – f7 # ) 6. c3xd4 Bc5 –B4 + (6.… Bc5 – b6 is also playable) 7. Bc1 – d2! ( 7. Nb1 – c3 f5xe4 with an attack on the knight f3 ) 7.… Bb4xd2 + ( 7.… f5xe4 ?! 8. Bd2xb4! E4xf3 9. Qd1xf3 with a better position for White ) 8. Nb1xd2 defends e4.
- 5.… Bc5 – b6 6. f4xe5 ( 6. e4xf5 ?! Bc8xf5 and Black can develop the bishop with speed. ) 6.… f5xe4 (attacks the knight f3) 7. Nf3 – g5 with an attack on e4.
4. Sb1-c3
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Rejection of the king's gambit with
2.… Bf8 – c5 3. Ng1 – f3 d7 – d6 4. Nb1 – c3 Ng8 – f6 5. Bf1 – c4
- 4. Sb1-c3
- 4.… Nb8 – c6 is one of the most common moves, but is considered a minor inaccuracy as far as the move order is concerned. The move allows 5. Bf1 – b5; But White can also continue with 5. Bf1 – c4.
- 4.… a7 – a6 tries to capture a pawn. White can consciously sacrifice the pawn in order to gain development advantages.
- 4.… Bc8 – g4 5. h2 – h3 to win the pair of bishops or 5. Nc3 – a5 which involves a pawn sacrifice.
- 4.… Ng8 – f6 Bf1 – c4
- 5.… exf4 Black decides to accept the gambit. A few moves ago this would have been a mistake, but at this point the move is possible.
- 5.… Nf6 – g4? many variants of this move are rather doubtful for Black. White has to defend himself very carefully.
- 5.… c7 – c6
- 5.… Bc8 – e6
- 5.… Nb8 – c6 is by far the most popular move in practice 6. d2 – d3
Nimzowitsch Counter-Gambit
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The Nimzowitsch counter-gambit
2.… d7 – d5 3. exd5 c7 – c6
The move order 2.… d7 – d5 3. exd5 c7 – c6 leads to the Nimzowitsch counter-Gambit. It is sometimes seen as a variant of the Falkbeer counter-gambit . It was very popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The white players eventually switched to a simple positional game instead of the prevailing attack game, whereupon the variant was classified as advantageous for White.
- On 4. dxc6 Nb8xc6 Black has gained a tempo and development advantage.
- 4. Qd1 – e2 initiates the Metz attack. 4.… cxd5 5. fxe5 Nb8 – c6 6. Ng1 – f3
- 4. Nb1-c3 exf4 5. Ng1-f3 Bf8-d6 6. d2-d4 Ng8-e7
Nordwalder variant 2.… Qd8 – f6
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The Nordwalder variant 2.… Qd8 – f6
The Nordwalder variant 2.… Qd8 – f6 propagated by Stefan Bücker brings the queen into play early.
- 3. Ng1 – f3 Qf6xf4 4. Nb1 – c3 Bf8 – b4 5. Bf1 – c4 Bb4xc3 6. 0–0 shows consistent play in the f-file.
- 3. d2-d3
- 3.… d7 – d6 4. Nb1 – c3 c7 – c6 is a solid approach by Black that maintains control over e5.
- 3.… exf4 4. Ng1 – f3
- 4.… Nb8 – c6 d3 – d4!
- 4.… d7 – d6 5. Nb1 – c3 Ng8 – e7
- 3. Nb1 – c3 Qf6xf4 Black has now captured the pawn without losing influence in the center .
- 4. Ng1 – f3 !? is considered a critical variant
- 4.… Bf8 – b4 5. Bf1 – c4 Bb4xc3 6. 0–0!
- 4.… d7 – d6! 5. Bf1 – c4 !?
- 4. d2 – d4 Qf4 – h4 + 5. g2 – g3 Qh4 – d8 6. dxe5
- 4. Ng1 – f3 !? is considered a critical variant
Keene defense 2.… Qd8 – h4 +
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The Keene Defense 2.… Qd8 – h4 + 3. g2 – g3 Qh4 – e7
This chess law recommended by Raymond Keene can lead to 3. g2 – g3 Qh4 – e7.
- 4. f4xe5 d7 – d6 5. e5xd6 Qe7xe4 + 6. Qd1 – e2 Qe4xe2 + 7. Ng1xe2 Bf8xd6.
- 4. Nb1 – c3 ?! recommended by Gallagher and McDonald.
- 4.… exf4 5. d2 – d4 fxg3
- 4.… d7 – d6 is considered a very solid continuation.
2.… d7 – d6
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Rejection of the King's Gambit with
2.… d7 – d6
The rejection with 2.… d7 – d6 was mentioned by Aaron Nimzowitsch. The name "London Defense" is found for them. After 3. Ng1 – f3 e5xf4 there is the Fischer defense of the King Jumper Gambit .
Instead White can also play 3. Nb1 – c3 and choose his own way. Johannson recommends treating the position like those of the classical rejection (2.… Bf8 – c5) with the difference that the bishop f8 is included behind the pawn chain. In many cases this is followed by 3.… Nb8 – c6 which enables the pin 4. Bf1 – b5.
2.… Ng8 – f6
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Rejection of the King's Gambit with
2.… Ng8 – f6
The counterattack 2.… Ng8 – f6 has already been attributed to Gioachino Greco , Alexander Dmitrijewitsch Petrow or Isidor Gunsberg . 3. Nb1 – c3 leads to the Vienna game . The move was even used by grandmasters. Although it is considered to be slightly advantageous for white, only little theoretical knowledge is required for black. It is also possible to switch to a certain variant of the King Jumper Gambit.
- 3. Bf1 – c4 ?! d7 – d5 leads to an even game. It can follow: 4. exd5 Nf6xd5 5. Ng1 – f3 Nd5xf4 6. 0–0 Bc8 – e6
- 3. fxe5 Nf6xe4 4. Ng1 – f3 Ne4 – g5 5. d2 – d4 Ng5xf3 6. Qd1xf3 Qd8 – h4 + 7. Qf3 – f2 Qh4xf2 + 8. Ke1xf2 Nb8 – c6 9. c2 – c3 d7 – d6 with an even position
- 3. Ng1 – f3 enables the transition to the King Jumper Gambit
- 3.… Nf6xe4 4. d2 – d3! Ne4-c5 5. fxe5 d7-d5
- 3.… exf4 goes over to the Schallopp defense , named after Emil Schallopp . This is usually followed by 4. e4 – e5 and now
- 4.… Nf6 – e4 5. Qd1 – e2! Ne4 – g5 6. d2 – d4 !? Ng5xf3 7. Qe2xf3
- 7.… d7 – d6 is probably the safest move for Black
- 7.… Qd8 – h4 + 8. g2 – g3 fxg3 9. hxg3 Qh4xd4 10. Rh1 – h4 with an unclear position. Some theorists clearly prefer white, others black.
- 4.… Nf6 – h5 5. d2 – d4
- 5.… g7 – g6 6. Bf1 – e2
- 5.… Bf8 – e7 counts as a loss of tempo. Possible ideas for Black are a chess bid on h4, similar to the Cunningham Gambit, or striking back on d6.
- 5.… g7 – g5 6. g2 – g4!
- 5.… d7 – d5 and now 6. Bf1 – e2 or 6. c2 – c4
- 5.… d7 – d6 6. Qd1 – e2
- 4.… Nf6 – e4 5. Qd1 – e2! Ne4 – g5 6. d2 – d4 !? Ng5xf3 7. Qe2xf3
Adelaide Counter Gambit
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The Adelaide Counter Gambit
2.… Nb8 – c6
2.… Nb8 – c6 3. Ng1 – f3 f7 – f5
This is the Adelaide counter-gambit recommended by Matthias Wahls in the 1990s, also called the Serafino variant (after the Italian chess master Serafino Dubois ). Black hopes that this variant will create a dynamic position. Both 4. Nf3xe5 ?? (... Nc6xe5 5. f4xe5 Qd8 – h4 +) and 4. f4xe5 (... f5xe4 5. Nf3 – g1 Nc6xe5) are good for Black. The main line is 4. e4xf5 e5 – e4 5. Nf3 – e5 Ng8 – f6.
- 3. Bf1 – c4 tries to switch to the king's bishop's gambit, for example after 3.… exf4. Instead, there can also be variants of the Viennese game (1. e2 – e4 e7 – e5 2. Nb1 – c3).
- 3.… f7 – f5 4. exf5 and now 4.… d7 – d5 5. Qd1 – h5 +! or 4.… Ng8 – f6.
- 3.… Ng8 – f6 4. Nb1 – c3 Nf6xe4 5. Ng1 – f3
- 3. Nb1 – c3 with transition to some older variants of the assumed king's gambit
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3. Ng1 – f3 f7 – f5 (3.… exf4 4. d2 – d4 is also playable) 4. exf5 e5 – e4 5. Nf3 – e5 The white knight has now been driven onto a good square.
- 5.… Ng8 – f6. Morosewitsch played 6. d3 twice in blizzards !? But the main move is 6. Nb1 – c3!
- 6.… Bf8 – b4 ?! 7. Bf1 – c4!
- 6.… Qd8 – e7 ?! 7. Ne5 – g4!
- 6.… Bf8 – d6 was the main line of Wahls. 7. d2-d4 Bd6-b4 8. Bc1-d2 Nf6-d5 9. Bc4.
- 5.… Nc6xe5 6. fxe5 Qd8 – e7 7. Qd1 – h5 + Ke8 – d8 8. d2 – d4 !?
- 5.… Ng8 – f6. Morosewitsch played 6. d3 twice in blizzards !? But the main move is 6. Nb1 – c3!
Greco Counter Gambit
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Rejection of the King's Gambit with
2.… f7 – f5 3. e4xf5
For the symmetrical counter-gambit or Greco counter-gambit named after Gioachino Greco 2.… f7 – f5? 3. e4xf5 shows White's draw advantage.
- 3.… e5xf4? 4. Qd1 – h5 +! g7-g6 5. f5xg6 Ng8-f6 6. g6-g7 + Nf6xh5 7. gxh8D
- 3.… e5 – e4 4. Qd1 – h5 + Ke8 – e7 White now has better chances because of the poor position of the black king and the extra pawn . Nevertheless, the variant is playable: Black can play a kind of queen's gambit (3rd Nb1 – c3 Qd8 – h4 + 4th Ke1 – e2) with swapped colors.
literature
- Jakow Estrin , Igor Glaskow: The rejected King's Gambit . Goldmann, Munich 1985, ISBN 3-442-10952-3 .
- John Shaw : The King's Gambit. Pp. 469–619, Quality Chess, Glasgow 2013, ISBN 1-906552-71-1 (English).
- Thomas Johansson : The Fascinating King's Gambit , Trafford 2004, ISBN 1-4120-4647-5 .