Staunton Gambit

The Staunton Gambit is a chess opening characterised by the moves:

1. d4 f5 (the Dutch Defence)
2. e4!?
Staunton Gambit
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Moves1.d4 f5 2.e4
ECOA82–A83
Named afterHoward Staunton
ParentDutch Defence

White sacrifices a pawn for quick development, hoping to launch an attack against Black's kingside, which has been somewhat weakened by 1...f5. Black can decline the gambit with 2...d6, transposing to the Balogh Defence, but accepting the pawn with 2...fxe4 is considered stronger.

Although the Staunton Gambit was once a feared weapon for White, it is rarely played today, since theory has shown how to neutralise it, and White scores only about 50 percent.

The ECO codes for Staunton Gambit are A82 and A83.


Gambit accepted

After 2...fxe4, play usually proceeds 3.Nc3 Nf6.

Main line: 4.Bg5

The main line runs 4.Bg5, first played by Howard Staunton against Bernhard Horwitz in London, 1846.[1]

After 4.Bg5, a common trap is 4...d5? 5.Bxf6 exf6 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxd5 Qxd5 8.Nxd5 when White has regained his pawn, and since his knight is attacking the pawns on both c7 and f6, will come out a pawn ahead. Instead, Black usually tries to develop quickly and fortify his kingside, giving back the pawn if necessary, with 4...Nc6 5.d5 (White can regain the pawn with 5.Bxf6 exf6 6.Nxe4, but after 6...Qe7, White has no good way to defend the knight. Everything except for 7.Qe2 allows ...d5 or ...f5, winning a piece, while after the forcing 7.Qe2 Nxd4 8.Qd3 d5 9.Qxd4 Qxe4+ 10.Qxe4 dxe4, Black has an extra pawn and the two bishops for no compensation, and should win with best play.) Ne5 6.Qd4 Nf7, while 6.Qe2 is a modern alternative.

4.f3

White can also try 4.f3 in the style of the Blackmar–Diemer Gambit, whereupon White gets good compensation after 4...exf3. So Black generally plays 4...d5! 5.fxe4 dxe4. Black can also try 4...e3, returning the pawn in order to hinder White's development.

4.g4?!

4.g4?! (the Bayonet Attack or Tartakower Variation) fails to provide enough compensation after 4...h6!

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See also

References
  1. Howard Staunton vs. Bernhard Horwitz, London 1846 Chessgames.com
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