Kings Gambit

The Kings gambit is a attempt to overwhelm one's opponent by starting the attack as early as the second move. The 19th century was the time of chess romanticism, when sacrifices and quick attacks were routine... The King's Gambit saw constant use, but even then players like Steinitz and Chigorin played it with postion considerations in mind.

With 2 f4 White stakes a pawn for a dominating center, better development, and a rapid attack on f7, which utilizes the open king's bishop file. White may have problems with his own safety, though. Black has four choices in response. He can (1) decline the gambit, but unenterprising; (2) accept the gambit and hold on to the pawn; (3) accept the pawn and quickly return it for equality; (4) gambit the pawn himself (2.....d5). Black plays 2 ...exf4, accepting the gambit, collums 1-24, most attention is paid to the Kieseritzky Gambit, Less common defenses include Philidors Gambit, Hastein Gambit, and Muzio's Gambit. Collums 1-6. Less common defense on the third move are covered in Columns 7-12. In instances where Black returns the pawn with 3....d5, (Columns 13-16). Including Cunnningham's Variation is the peculiar3.....Be7 (Columns 17-18).The King's Bishop Gambit, 3Bc4 and other moves which allow Qh4+ are seen in Columns 19-24. This check is double-edged because the black queen must often lose time retreating. 3 Qf3, (Column 24) is the Breyer Gambit.The Falkbeer CounterGambit, 2.....d5 (Columns 25-30), is the most aggressive counterthrust to the King's Gambit. Black attempts to rip the position wide open. The old main line of the Falkbeer (Column 26) is under a cloud, so Nimzowitsch's 3.....c6 (Columns 28-29) is played more often.Declining the gambit with 2.....Bc5 is an old and respected way to respond. Whether White plays 4 Nc3 or 4 c3 Black seems to hold his own. Column 36 examinies less usual Defenses