Middle Gambit
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a | b | c | d | e | f | G | H |
The middle gambit is an opening of the chess game . It is one of the open games and is classified in the ECO codes under the key C22.
In older chess publications, the term "Mittelspiel" is used instead of "Mittelgambit". However, this term is ambiguous in the chess vocabulary: Mittelspiel also describes the game phase after the opening. In the chess literature , the term “middle gambit” has meanwhile established itself, although in the main line after 3. Qd1xd4 White does not sacrifice a pawn and thus does not play a gambit . Real Gambit variants arise after 3. c2 – c3 or, rarely found, 3. f2 – f4.
The Middle Gambit is characterized by the moves:
- 1. e2 – e4 e7 – e5 2. d2 – d4 e5xd4
Main variants
After 2.… e5xd4 the following main continuations are known:
- 3. Qd1xd4 (see diagram) Nb8 – c6
- 4. Qd4 – a4 ( Scandinavian defense with swapped colors and increased tempo)
- 4. Qd4 – e3 (the main variant of the middle gambit)
- 4.… Bf8 – b4 +
- 4.… Ng8 – f6
- 4.… g7 – g6
- 3. f2 – f4 ?! (The Halasz Gambit)
- After 3. Ng1 – f3 the game moves on to other openings:
- 3.… Bf8 – c5 or 3.… Nb8 – c6 ( Scottish game )
- 3.… d7 – d6 ( Philidor defense )
- 3.… Ng8 – f6 ( Russian defense )
- 3.… Bf8 – b4 +
- After 3. c2 – c3 the game goes into the Nordic Gambit .
literature
- Alexei Suetin : Russian to King's Gambit . 2nd edition. Sportverlag, Berlin 1989, ISBN 3-328-00270-7 .
- Mario Ziegler: Paulsen opening . Verlag ChessCoach, St. Ingbert 2010, ISBN 978-3-9811905-3-3 .
- Jerzy Konikowski : Crash course of the chess opening theory . 4th edition Joachim Beyer Verlag, Hollfeld 2011, ISBN 978-3-88805-293-4 .