Kieseritzky Gambit
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| Moves | 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ECO | C39 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Origin | Manuscript by Giulio Cesare Polerio, 1590 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Named after | Lionel Kieseritzky (1805-1853) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent | King's Gambit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In chess, the Kieseritzky Gambit is an opening line in the King's Gambit. It begins with the moves:
Following Black's attempt to hold the sacrificed pawn by 3...g5, White reacts by immediately undermining the pawn chain. It is one of the main lines of the King's Gambit after 3...g5, and its overall assessment is still unclear but approximately equal. The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings classifies the Kieseritzky Gambit under code C39. C39 is also the code for the Allgaier Gambit, in which White plays 5.Ng5?!, sacrificing the knight for an attack after 5...h6 6.Nxf7 Kxf7. The Allgaier Gambit is considered dubious by modern theory.
History
The opening now known as the Kieseritzky Gambit was first described by Polerio in the late 16th century. Greco also included a game with this opening in his 1620 collection.[1] It was also analyzed by Salvio (1604) and Philidor (1749).[2] In the first edition of the Handbuch in 1843, 5.Ne5 was considered under the heading of the Allgaier Gambit, but the editors noted that Kieseritzky had contributed significantly to the theory of 5.Ne5, which they advocated as superior to 5.Ng5 (an opinion shared by almost all subsequent analysts). The corresponding chapter in the second edition of the Handbuch in 1852 was headed "Allgaier and Kieseritzky's Gambit". Subsequently the name Kieseritzky Gambit came into general use for 5.Ne5, Allgaier Gambit being used exclusively for 5.Ng5.
Analysis
5...Nf6 (Berlin Defence)
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 |              | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
5...Nf6 is the most common reply among grandmasters, attacking White's weak pawn on e4 and exerting control over central squares.
6.Bc4
The line most often continues 6...d5 7.exd5 Bd6, which is also known as the Anderssen Defence and is considered the main line of the Kieseritzky Gambit itself. The other main move is 7...Bg7, the Deferred Paulsen Defence.[3] 7...Ne4 also maintains the advantage but is rare. If Black instead does not protect the pawn, although both the bishop on c4 and the knight on e5 target the pawn on f7, the stronger threat is Bxf7+ rather than Nxf7.[4] After 7...Bd6, the main continuations are 8.0-0, known as the Rice Gambit, and 8.d4, which typically continues 8...Nh5 or 8...0-0. 8...Nh5 9.Bxf4 Nxf4 is known as the Anderssen-Cordel Gambit, but it is considered refuted.
6.Nxg4
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 | | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 | | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
This invites the surprising forcing continuation 6...Nxe4 7.d3 Ng3 8.Bxf4 Nxh1 9.Qe2+ Qe7 10.Nf6+ Kd8 11.Bxc7+ Kxc7 12.Nd5+ Kd8 13.Nxe7 Bxe7, leading to an extremely imbalanced position where White is down a rook, bishop, and knight in exchange for Black's queen and one pawn. Black does have an opportunity to escape the sequence with 8...Qe7+. This most commonly continues 9.Be2 Rg8 10.Bxg3 Rxg4 11.Bf2 Rxg2. Alternative sixth moves for Black include 6...d5, the de Rivière Variation, typically continuing 7.Nxf6+ Qxf6, as well as 6...d6, transposing to the Kolisch Defence, and 6...Nc6.
6.d4 (Rubinstein Variation)
This most often continues 6...d6 7.Nd3 Nxe4 8.Bxf4.
5...d6 (Kolisch Defence)
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 | | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
This is the main sound alternative to 5...Nf6. The main line continues 6.Nxg4 Nf6 7.Nxf6+ (or 7.Nf2) Qxf6, returning the gambited pawn in exchange for quick development. Black also often plays 6...Be7, which regains the pawn, most commonly continuing 7.d4 Bxh4+ 8.Nf2 Bg3, leaving the bishop rather confined but difficult to dislodge.
5...h5?! (Long Whip Variation)
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 | | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
Formerly considered a critical test of the Kieseritzky Gambit, this line is now considered dubious, but is still popular among amateurs. Black goes to considerable lengths to hold on to the pawn, at the expense of a large lead in development and attacking chances for White. White's usual reply is 6.Bc4, with play most commonly continuing with 6...Nh6 or 6...Rh7. The line 6.Bc4 Rh7 7.d4 Bh6 8.Nc3 is known as the Jaenisch Variation. 7...d6 and 7...f3 are more common alternatives.
Other 5th moves for Black
- 5...d5, the Brentano (or Campbell) Defence. White's best reply is 6.d4. The Kaplanek Variation, 6.d4 Nf6 7.exd5 Qxd5 8.Nc3 Bb4 9.Kf2, and the Caro Variation, 6.d4 Nf6 7.Bxf4 Nxe4 8.Nd2, are two known lines.
- 5...Qe7, the Salvio (or Rosenthal) Defence. White's best reply is 6.d4. A risky counterattacking line is 6.d4 f5 7.Bc4, the Cozio Variation.
- 5...Bg7, the Paulsen Defence. White usually replies with 6.d4 or 6.Nxg4.
- 5...Nc6, the Neumann Defence. White's best reply is again 6.d4.
- 5...Be7?, the Polerio Defence. White gains an advantage with 6.Bc4.
See also
Notes
References
- ^ "Greco vs. NN, 1620". Chessgames.com.
- ^ Hooper, David; Whyld, Kenneth (1996) [First pub. 1992]. "Kieseritzky Gambit". The Oxford Companion to Chess (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 200. ISBN 0-19-280049-3.
- ^ Shaw, John (2019). The King's Gambit. UK: Quality Chess. ISBN 978-1-906552-71-8.
- ^ Shaw, John (2019). The King's Gambit. UK: Quality Chess. pp. 91–99. ISBN 978-1-906552-71-8.
Bibliography
- Keene, Raymond (1993) [First pub. 1992 by B.T. Batsford Ltd]. The Complete Book of Gambits. Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 0-8050-2635-5.
- Korchnoi, Viktor; Zak, Vladimir (1986) [First pub. 1974]. O'Connell, Kevin; Wade, Robert (eds.). King's Gambit. Macmillan Publishing Company. ISBN 0-02-022020-0.
- Korn, Walter (1982). Modern Chess Openings (12th ed.). David McKay Company, Inc. ISBN 0-679-13500-6.
- Matanović, Aleksandar, ed. (1997). Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings. Vol. C (3rd ed.). Yugoslavia: Chess Informant. ISBN 86-7297-035-7.
- McDonald, Neil (1998). The King's Gambit. B. T. Batsford Ltd, London. ISBN 0-7134-8451-9.
- Shaw, John (2013). The King's Gambit. Quality Chess. ISBN 978-1-906552-71-8.