Only Chess
16 Jul 05
16 Jul 05
2 edits
This may seem like an idiotic question, but how is one supposed to counter the king/queen's gambit?
Take this game as an example:
Game 1259787
Is this an appropriate response to a gambit?
16 Jul 05
Originally posted by WildfireThe King's and the Queen's gambits are quite different. The best line against the King's gambit is probably Fisher's defence, I stopped playing the King's Gambit after being beaten by a provisionally rated player: Game 886190 although I cheered up about it when Yozzer's rating went over 2,200 😵
This may seem like an idiotic question, but how is one supposed to counter the king/queen's gambit?
Take this game as an example:
Game 1259787
Is this an appropriate response to a gambit?
The Queen's Gambit isn't really a gambit as if the pawn is taken there's only one variation where it isn't a distaster for black to try to hold onto the pawn. The easiest way to avoid the Queen's Gambit is to avoid playing 1 ... d5 if you don't like it. Your defence looked plausible (but I didn't check it carefully) and you won the game so why worry?
16 Jul 05
Originally posted by DeepThoughtWell, I'm mainly worried because the gambits are being used on me quite a bit, and I don't know how to counter it.
The King's and the Queen's gambits are quite different. The best line against the King's gambit is probably Fisher's defence, I stopped playing the King's Gambit after being beaten by a provisionally rated player: Game 886190 although I cheered up about it when Yozzer's rating went over 2,200 😵
The Queen's Gambit isn't really a gambit ...[text shortened]... r defence looked plausible (but I didn't check it carefully) and you won the game so why worry?
16 Jul 05
1 edit
Originally posted by WildfireI use QG a lot. Not that I'm a good player or anything, but I tend to find games harder if black declines the gambit. 2...c6 is not bad. There are a lot of online sets where you can see some of the most used defences.
Well, I'm mainly worried because the gambits are being used on me quite a bit, and I don't know how to counter it.
As black I tend to take the gambits, as I play for fun, and it provides more interesting games (on my level).
Edit: In the QG, if you take it, leave that pawn for the taking. It's not worth to defend it.
16 Jul 05
Originally posted by WildfireThere are several approaches to that problem:
Well, I'm mainly worried because the gambits are being used on me quite a bit, and I don't know how to counter it.
1) Avoid playing 1...e5 against 1.e4, and 1...d5 against 1.d4 but be careful there are also gambits in other openings.
2) Accept the gambit. For the King's gambit this is not a bad option; for the queen's gambit it is not the best decision, however
3) Decline. After 1.e4 e5 2.f4 play 2...Bc5 with a perfectly reasonable position; 1.d4 d5 2.c4 and now there are several options, e.g. 2...c6 the Slav defence, or 2...e6 the Orthodox.
4) Use counter-gambits (though you must really have good grasp of the idea behind it) like Falkbeer Counter Gambit against King gambit 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4 4.d3 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Bd2 e3 or the Albin Counter gambit against Queen's gambit 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5!? 3.dxe d4 4.Nf3 Nc6, etc.
Hope this helps.
16 Jul 05
Originally posted by WildfireAs I said I didn't analyse the game carefully, but what you did in the one posted looked sensible to me. If you accept the gambit then 4. c5 is a good idea, ideally you want to leave white with an isolated queen's pawn and then the play surrounds that. I like the way you got the two bishops posted on b7 and c5. Based on that game you are dealing with the Queen's Gambit ok..
Well, I'm mainly worried because the gambits are being used on me quite a bit, and I don't know how to counter it.
17 Jul 05
Originally posted by ilywrinI agree with some of what you say but I wish to make some clarifications based on my experience (Queen's Gambit not King's).
There are several approaches to that problem:
1) Avoid playing 1...e5 against 1.e4, and 1...d5 against 1.d4 but be careful there are also gambits in other openings.
2) Accept the gambit. For the King's gambit this is not a bad option; for the queen's gambit it is not the best decision, however
3) Decline. After 1.e4 e5 2.f4 play 2...Bc5 with a perfectly ...[text shortened]... r gambit against Queen's gambit 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5!? 3.dxe d4 4.Nf3 Nc6, etc.
Hope this helps.
There is nothing wrong with accepting the c pawn in the Queen's Gambit. Just don't try to keep it.
If you like a closed positional game then feel free to decline with 2. ... e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. e3 0-0 7. 0-0 (The Orthodox). I've played a ton of games with this. I've found though it can bog down slightly and recently I've taken up playing Bf4 rather than Bg5 as white.
The Slav is also solid however I have much less experience playing against it.
The Albin Countergambit however is not particulary solid and I would guide most players (excluding Morozevich) away from it.