Kings gambit lines....

Hmmm...If it was me I would accept. You should play a couple of 20-30min games with them...I will play you... and then decide which one you like better.

I think it's generally accepted that the most testing variation of the King's Gambit is 3..g5! Learn the theory and just grab the pawn! This move was recommended by John Emms in "Play the Open Games as Black". I would highly recommend this book if you play 1..e5. It's a great book, and gives various options against literally everything you could think of except the Ruy Lopez.

Originally posted by !~TONY~!
I think it's generally accepted that the most testing variation of the King's Gambit is 3..g5! Learn the theory and just grab the pawn! This move was recommended by John Emms in "Play the Open Games as Black". I would highly recommend this book if you play 1..e5. It's a great book, and gives various options against literally everything you could think of except the Ruy Lopez.

I agree. I always play 3...g5 as black. The Kieseritzky (4.h4 g4 5.Ne5) isn't looking that great for white at the moment. As white I usually try 4.d4, but unfortunately it doesn't seem easy to avoid the draw after 4...g4 5.Bxf4 gxf3 6.Qxf3 Nc6 7.Bc4 d5! 8.Bxd5 Nxd4 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.Qh5+ Ke6. White has nothing better than a perpetual. Black can try 10...Kg7, which is unclear.

KGA followed by ... g5 is really nasty for white from a psychological perspective. I think the King's Gambit player is looking for quick development and a strong centre instead he ends up having to defend his flank for a large part of the game making counterplay difficult. Game 4248809

Black should accept the gambit while developing as rapidly and actively as possible while keeping his opponents threats in mind and the pressure white hopes to bring on f7. Black may also have an easier time of it if he doesn't get too caught up in maintaining his extra, but doubled, f pawn and instead sets the more realistic goal of simple equality.

Originally posted by chessisvanity
well...i'm talking about a tournament coming up (real otb)

so if i face the KG....is it the Falkbeer or KGA?

this is really a matter of taste.

I rarely play 1. ... e5 now but when I did I never accepted the King's Gambit on the grounds that they WANT you to take it.

I preferred 2. ... Bc5 which is solid but you may find it a little uninspiring. I scored very well with it but often via some pretty dismal positions. If you prefer more active positions then 2. ... d5 must be the better choice for you.

Objectively, however, I suspect 2. ... exf4 must be the best move and probably leads to at least equality if not more.

Originally posted by hammster21


You might try the Abbazia defense(Modern Defense is its listed in the games explorer)
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5
If white plays the kings bishops gambit (3. Bc4), then your going to need something else.

This is the only line I've ever had success with against the KG. The g5 stuff is good, but long term my weak squares (g7, f6) tend to come back to haunt me.

Game 3638342

Originally posted by Green Paladin
KGA followed by ... g5 is really nasty for white

Early ...g5 should be met with h4!

Really nasty for white from a psychological POV? I just think "great! You just keep weakening your KS matey...!"
Game 3988126

Originally posted by Squelchbelch
Early ...g5 should be met with h4!

Really nasty for white from a psychological POV? I just think "great! You just keep weakening your KS matey...!"
Game 3988126

h4... g4. I played h4 in my game above.

Originally posted by Green Paladin
h4... g4. I played h4 in my game above.

After 1.e4...e5, 2.f4...exf4, 3.Nf3...d6 4.Bc4! is probably best.

According to Thomas Johansson in his excellent The King's Gambit for the Creative Aggressor!:

"This is usually dismissed as leading to the Hanstein gambit after 4...h6, 5.d4...g5, 6.0-0 which is good for black. However, we have no intention of playing 5.d4?!

By the way, 4.d4...g5, 5.h4...g4, 6.Ng1 (not 6.Ng5? because of 6...f6!) is the most popular variation, but I don't think that I can recommend it. Partly because I have a horrendous score in it myself and partly because I've come to feel that it's against the spirit of the King's Gambit since white gives up his lead in development, which usually represents an important part of the compensation for the pawn. Besides, this is the variation people often prepare for you if they know you play the King's Gambit, so why allow your opponents to 'stand on the shoulders of giants', when you can make them think for themselves with 4.Bc4!"

After the correct 4...h6! (4...g5? leads to 5.h4!...g4, 6.Ng5...Nh6, 7.d4...f6, 8.Bxf4...Nc6) Johansson suggests avoiding plenty of theory with either 5.b3!? or 5.d3!? making strong cases for both.

Originally posted by Squelchbelch
After [b]1.e4...e5, 2.f4...exf4, 3.Nf3...d6 4.Bc4! is probably best.

According to Thomas Johansson in his excellent The King's Gambit for the Creative Aggressor!:

"[i]This is usually dismissed as leading to the Hanstein gambit after 4...h6, 5.d4...g5, 6.0-0 which is good for black. However, we have no intention of playing 5.d4?!

By ...[text shortened]... nty of theory with either 5.b3!? or 5.d3!? making strong cases for both.[/b]

Thanks! I'll definitely play 4. Bc4 from now on. I really hate having to retreat my knight surrendering a tempo and development.

Originally posted by chessisvanity
So as you all know... cause you follow my every move....
I used to play Hyper-modern crap openings....

I switched to Classical openings....1.e4 1.d4 and 1...e5 and 1...d5

The only problem opening I have is the Kings Gambit...

Should I accept or decline? I'm in favour of declining....

To accept or to decline depends on your preference. The last time I had to play it I decided to accept it was to refute it. I regreted accepting it.

Originally posted by !~TONY~!
I think it's generally accepted that the most testing variation of the King's Gambit is 3..g5! Learn the theory and just grab the pawn! This move was recommended by John Emms in "Play the Open Games as Black". I would highly recommend this book if you play 1..e5. It's a great book, and gives various options against literally everything you could think of except the Ruy Lopez.

I agree 100%

Brilliant book for King's Gambit repertiore for Black!!

The Kieseritzky is a difficult line to play against, thats why I prefer 4.h3 against it. It does open a severe hole on g3, which can spell disaster if penetrated by a Knight, but it also locks in blacks weak pawn at g5, which he may have to take time to protect. I like this move as it keeps White's king side more compact while still opening up blacks. In the 10 or so games i played this black castled queen side 50% and got stuck in the middle the other 50%. It may not be the "best" variation but it leads to wild, unpredictable play, which i should favor white (the KG player).

1. e4 e5
2. f4 exf4
3. Nf3 g5
4. h3!?



Here's a sample game, although from blitz so...

[Event "rated blitz match"]
[Site "Free Internet Chess Server"]
[Date "2007.12.28"]
[Round "?"]
[White "hammster"]
[Black "chessmatic"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1284E"]
[BlackElo "1294"]
[ECO "C34"]
[TimeControl "300"]

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h3 d5 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Nc3 Qe6+ 7. Be2 f6 8. O-O Bd7 9. Nd4 Qb6 10. Bh5+ Kd8 11. Ne2 Bc5 12. c3 Nc6 13. Kh1 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Bxd4 15. cxd4 Qxd4 16. Re1 Ne7 17. Qe2 Qd6 18. b3 c5 19. Bb2 Rc8 20. Rad1 Rc6 21. d4 Qe6 22. Qxe6 Bxe6 23. dxc5+ Kc7 24. Bxf6 Nd5 25. Bxh8 Ne3 26. Be5+ Kc8 27. Rd6 Rxd6 28. Bxd6 Kd7 29. Bf3 h6 30. Kg1 Kc8 31. Rxe3 fxe3 32. Kf1 Kd7 33. Ke2 a6 34. Kxe3 Bf5 35. Bxb7 Bb1 36. Bxa6 Bxa2 37. Bc4 Kc6 38. Kf3 h5 39. g4 hxg4+ 40. Kxg4 Bb1 41. Kxg5 Bh7 42. h4 Bg8 43. h5 Bxc4 44. h6 Bg8 45. Kf6
{chessmatic forfeits on time} 1-0

Originally posted by hammster21
The Kieseritzky is a difficult line to play against, thats why I prefer 4.h3 against it. It does open a severe hole on g3, which can spell disaster if penetrated by a Knight, but it also locks in blacks weak pawn at g5, which he may have to take time to protect. I like this move as it keeps White's king side more compact while still opening up blacks. In ...[text shortened]... Bg8 43. h5 Bxc4 44. h6 Bg8 45. Kf6
{chessmatic forfeits on time} 1-0

I have a game open! I would love for you to play h3 against me!