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Kieseritzky Gambit
Chess opening From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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In chess, the Kieseritzky Gambit is an opening line in the King's Gambit. It begins with the moves:
This is the main line of the Classical Variation (3...g5) and one of the main lines of the King's Gambit in general. After Black attempts to establish defense of the pawn on f4, White reacts by immediately undermining the pawn chain with 4.h4, where Black has little choice but to play 4...g4. The gambit's overall assessment is still unclear but approximately equal. Boris Spassky used it to defeat Bobby Fischer in 1960,[1] leading Fischer to develop the Fischer Defense (3...d6).
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.
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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.[2] It was also analyzed by Salvio (1604) and Philidor (1749).[3] 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.
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5...Nf6 (Berlin Defense)
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Anderssen Defense, 8.d4 Nh5
5...Nf6 is the most common reply, attacking White's weak pawn on e4 and exerting control over central squares. This move has lost popularity over time, particularly to the Kolisch Defense, but remains relatively common.
White almost always responds with 6.Bc4, 6.Nxg4, or 6.d4. 6.Nxg4 is relatively drawish compared to the other options.
6.Bc4
The line most often continues 6...d5 7.exd5 Bd6, which is also known as the Anderssen Defense and is considered the main line of the Kieseritzky Gambit itself. The other main move is 7...Bg7, the Deferred Paulsen Defense.[4] 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.[5]
After 7...Bd6, the main continuations are 8.0-0, known as the Rice Gambit, which typically continues 8...Bxe5 9.Re1 Qe7 10.c3, 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
6.Nxg4 Nxe4 7.d3 Ng3 8.Bxf4 Nxh1, forcing continuation through 13.Nxe7 Bxe7
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6.Nxg4 Nxe4 7.d3 Ng3 8.Bxf4 Qe7+ 9.Be2 Rg8 10.Bxg3 Rxg4 11.Bf2 Rxg2 12.Nc3
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Black often takes White's undefended pawn with 6...Nxe4. This invites the surprising forcing continuation 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 may exit the sequence by instead playing 8...Qe7+, which most commonly continues 9.Be2 Rg8 10.Bxg3 Rxg4 11.Bf2 Rxg2 12.Nc3. Black also often plays 9...Qb4+, threatening both White's bishop on f4 and pawn on b2. White usually responds by trading queens with 10.Qd2 Qxd2.
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 Defense, and 6...Nc6.
6.d4 (Rubinstein Variation)
This is another common move, and most often continues 6...d6 7.Nd3 Nxe4 8.Bxf4 Bg7 9.c3, leaving an open center.
8...Qe7 is a common alternative for Black, enabling a discovered check if the knight on e4 moves. Thus, White usually responds with 9.Qe2 or 9.Be2.
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5...d6 (Kolisch Defense)
Kolisch Defense, 6.Nxg4 Nf6 7.Nxf6+ Qxf6
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Kolisch Defense, 6.Nxg4 Be7 8.d4 Bxh4+ 8.Nf2 Bg3
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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)
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Jaenisch Variation
Formerly considered a critical test of the Kieseritzky Gambit, this line is now considered dubious. 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.
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Other 5th moves for Black
- 5...d5, the Brentano (or Campbell) Defense. 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) Defense. White's best reply is 6.d4. A risky counterattacking line is 6.d4 f5 7.Bc4, the Cozio Variation.
- 5...Bg7, the Paulsen Defense. White usually replies with 6.d4 or 6.Nxg4.
- 5...Nc6, the Neumann Defense. White's best reply is again 6.d4.
- 5...Be7?, the Polerio Defense. White gains an advantage with 6.Bc4.
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See also
Notes
References
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