The King’s Gambit
Overview
The King’s Gambit is a chess opening in which the following moves are played:
The idea behind the King’s Gambit is: White sacrifices a pawn to get counterplay and an advantage in development.
Black may or may not accept the pawn sacrifice, and this changes the character of the game.
The King’s Gambit can be divided into four major variations, depending on Black’s options.
The first decision that Black has to make is whether to take the pawn on f4 or not.
Taking it leads to the King’s Gambit Accepted, the main line, while not taking it leads to the King’s Gambit declined.
The four major variations are:
- King’s Gambit Accepted: Classical Variation
- King’s Gambit Accepted: Fischer Defense
- King’s Gambit Accepted: Bishop’s Variation
- King’s Gambit Declined
In the King’s Gambit Accepted: Classical Variation, Black plays g5 to protect the pawn on f4.
This opening runs into a lot of issues for Black since White can get his Knight to e5 and force Black’s pawns to over advance.
Therefore the Fischer variation was created (by Bobby Fischer) to control the e5 square before protecting the f4 pawn.
In the King’s Gambit Accepted: Fischer Defense, Black first takes away the e5 square from the White Knight.
Then proceeds to protect the f4 pawn with his g pawn.
This variation prevents Black from dealing with a lot of headaches when White’s Knight gets on the e5 square.
In the King’s Gambit Accepted: Bishop’s Variation, White develops the Bishop instead of the Knight.
The idea is: White is okay with losing the right to castle since he will be up in development by two pieces over Black.
In the King’s Gambit Declined, Black decides not to accept White’s sacrifice.
He will try to exploit the fact that playing f4 weakens the King, by playing moves like Bc5 (to prevent White from castling) or immediately open up lines for attack by playing d5.
What is The King's Gambit?
The King’s Gambit is a chess opening that belongs to the field of open games.
White sacrifices a pawn by playing 1.e4 e5 2.f4.
You can see what it looks like below.
How To Reach The Kings Gambit
- First, White must move the King’s pawn two squares (1.e4).
- Then, Black’s reply should be to move his King’s pawn two squares as well (1...e5).
- In return, White sacrifices a pawn by moving his f-pawn two squares (2.f4).
Take a look at the moves below.
Why Play The King's Gambit
The King’s Gambit has been by many World Champions and is a very good opening.
White gains an advantage in development and the chance to control the center by pushing his Queen’s pawn.
This leads to imbalanced positions that are great to play for a win.
It is not as popular or commonly played as the Ruy Lopez or the Italian, so you may be able to catch many unprepared opponents.
Every move explained
King’s Gambit Accepted: Classical Variation
How To Reach It
The King’s Gambit Accepted: Classical Variation appears on the board after the following moves:
- e4 e5
- f4 exf4
- Nf3 g5
You can see the moves here.
Why play the King’s Gambit Accepted: Classical Variation
The Classical Variation is the most played option in the King’s Gambit.
Black tries to keep the won f-pawn and secure a material advantage.
White's Moves
Play h2-h4 to challenge Black’s pawn formation
The move 4.h4 introduces the main line against the Classical Variation of the King’s Gambit Accepted.
White wants to challenge Black’s Kingside pawns and force him to expose his position, while also aiming to take back the pawn on f4.
Play Bc4 to target the f7 pawn
White idea:
Get the Bishop to c4 so it can attack f7.
Then castle so the rook and then later the queen and knight can all attack the weak f7 square.
Expand in the center with d4
One of White’s goals ideas in the King’s Gambit is to control the center squares.
White can do this with d4 since the e-pawn no longer controls the e5 square.
Black's moves
Expand in the center with d5
One of the main ideas for Black is to break in the center with d5.
This will help him develop his pieces and challenge White’s spatial advantage.
Expand on the Kingside with g4
Since Black has played g5, one of the ideas will be to push forward with g4.
Black’s idea: use pawns to advance on enemies Kingside.
This move attacks the Knight on f3 and eventually allows Black to play f3 himself and attack White’s King.
This can also expose Black’s King to an attack on the d8-h4 diagonal.
Attack White’s King with Qh4+
A very effective ideas for Black is to use the Queen to give Black’s king a check.
Since White cannot play g3, he has to move his King to f1.
The King will be exposed and lose the right to castle.
King’s Gambit Accepted: Fischer Defense
How To Reach It
The King’s Gambit Accepted: Fischer Defense appears on the board after the following moves:
- e4 e5
- f4 exf4
- Nf3 d6
You can see the moves here.
Why play the King’s Gambit Accepted: Fischer Defense
This variation was popularized by the former World Champion Bobby Fischer.
The idea was to take the e5 square away from White’s Knight before protecting the won f-pawn.
This prevents complications that arise if the Knight was allowed to reach e5.
White's Moves
Expand in the center with d4
One of White’s main ideas in the King’s Gambit is to expand in the center.
White makes use of the fact that Black’s pawn has moved away from e5 to play d4.
Play Bc4 to target the f7 pawn
White wants to put his Bishop to c4 because it targets Black’s f7 pawn (Which is only defended by the enemy King)
Then White can castle and use his Rook and Knight to further attack on f7.
Play g3 to undermine the pawn structure
White can lay g3 and attack Black’s f4 pawn.
This move can undermine Black’s entire Kingside pawn structure.
Black's moves
Protect the pawn with g5
One of the main ideas for Black is to keep the pawn won on f4.
The best way to do this is by playing g5.
Develop the Bishop to g4
Black plays d6 in order to open up the way for the Bishop.
A good square for this Bishop would be g4, as it can pin White’s Knight on f3.
Develop the Bishop to g7
Black usually plays g5 to protect the pawn on f4.
But this also allows him to develop his Bishop to g7. From there it will control the whole large dark-squared diagonal.
King’s Gambit Accepted: Bishop’s Variation
How To Reach It
The King’s Gambit Accepted: Bishop’s Variation appears on the board after the following moves:
- e4 e5
- f4 exf4
- Bc4
You can see the moves here.
Why play the King’s Gambit Accepted: Bishop’s Variation
The idea of this move is for White to let Black’s Queen attack him.
Since even though White has to move his King (and lose the right to castle), White gains an advantage.
White can use his Knight to chase away Black’s Queen, and gain an advantage in development.
White's Moves
Expand in the center with d4
One of White’s main ideas in the King’s Gambit is to expand in the center.
White makes use of the fact that Black’s pawn has moved away from e5 to play d4.
Play Ne5 to target the f7 pawn
Developing the Bishop to c4 targets the pawn on f7.
White wants to get another piece to target this pawn. The best way of doing so is to take the Knight to e5 via f3.
Black's moves
Play c6 followed by d5
The fact that White has developed his Bishop to c4 makes it harder for Black to react in the center.
But he can do that by preparing d5 with c6.
Expose White’s King with Qh4+
One of the most classical and effective ideas for Black is to give a check on h4.
Often, White cannot play g3, so he will have to move the King to f1. The King will be exposed and lose the right to castle.
Attack the e4 pawn
White’s e4 pawn may be weak.
Black can attack it while developing a piece with Nf6. If White protects it with Nc3, he can renew the threat by playing Bb4.
King’s Gambit Declined
How To Reach It
The King’s Gambit Declined appears on the board after the following moves:
- e4 e5
- f4 d5
Or also:
- e4 e5
- f4 Bc5
You can see the moves here.
Why play the King’s Gambit Declined
The idea of declining the gambit is to avoid theory and have games that are double-edged.
These moves are easier to learn, and also giving Black interesting chances of playing for a win.
White's Moves
Expand in the Kingside with f4-f5
Since Black has not taken the pawn on f4, White can use it to his favor.
One of the most important ideas is the f4-f5 push, gaining space on the Kingside.
Play Bb5+ to get rid of the weak d5 pawn
If Black declines the gambit by playing 2...d5, often White is left with a weak pawn on d5.
It is a good idea to give a check on b5 and force Black to play c6 so that this pawn can be exchanged.
Black's moves
React in the center with d5
One of the most popular ways of declining the gambit is by immediately reacting in the center with d5.
Black’s idea: When White played f4, he over exposed his kingside. Let’s open up the position and diagonals so we can attack there.
Develop quickly with Bc5-d6
Black’s idea: Use His Bishop To Prevent White From Castling.
Since this bishop controls, the diagonal White needs to castle…
White has to use a few turns, exchanging for the bishop in order to castle.
So during this time, black can mobilize his pieces during that time.
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