Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. f4/2...exf4/3. Nf3/3...g5/4. h4
King's Knight Gambit
| 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 |
Common moves:
4...g4 - only move
4...g4 - only move
Black's g-pawn is attacked, and the only move that saves it is 4...g4.
- 4...f6? simply loses the pawn to 5.Nxg5! since 5...fxg5 6.Qh5+ Ke7 7.Qxg5+ Nf6 8.e5 leads to a winning advantage for White.
- 4...h6?! also loses the pawn, as 5.hxg5 hxg5 permits 6.Rxh8. Black has no better option but to allow 5...Bg7 6.gxh6 Rxh6 7.Rxh6 Bxh6. This gives White the advantage.
- 4...gxh4? leaves Black with a terrible pawn structure - doubled isolated pawns on f4, h4, f7, and h7. White doesn't have to capture them right away, often instead playing 5.d4.
- 4...Bh6 or 4...Be7 followed by 5.hxg5 Bxg5 6.d4! allows White to win the f-pawn back with the move g3 while remaining ahead in development.
Black does have one accurate alternative move to 4...g4, which is to counterattack in the center with 4...d5!?
The line often continues with 5. d4! dxe4 Nxg5 Nf6 which is unclear.
Theory table
[edit | edit source].
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4. h4
| 4 | 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Main Line | ... g4 |
Ne5 Nf6 |
References
[edit | edit source]- Fundamental Chess Openings (2009). Paul van der Sterren. ISBN 1-906454-13-2.
2. Nf3
2. Other
1. e4 ...other:
2. other
With 2...e6:
With 2...g6:
With other 2nd moves for Black:
With 2...g6:
With other 2nd moves for Black:
2. other:
1. d4 f5
Dutch defence
Dutch defence
1. d4 ...other:
Flank
Unorthodox