Originally posted by cmsMasterAs previously stated, the Milner-Barry is so well known that I wouldn't bother playing it. Rather I would try for a Alekhine-Chatard Attack
Here are my recommendations, an entire repertoire of gambits: 🙂
As white:
1.e4 e6 (The stupid French!) - I recommend the Advanced, aiming for the Milner-Barry Gambit - 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.Bd3!? cxd3 7.cxd3 Bd7 8.O-O Nxd4 9.Nxd4 Qxd4 10.Nc3
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4
Of course if black plays a Winawer or McCutcheon instead of the classical then you're on your own. I don't know any french players who are willing to gobble that pawn (though I'm sure they're out there).
Originally posted by cmsMasterI missed this before...
...
1.e4 e6 2.b3 d5 3.Bb2!? dxe4 4.Nc3 - White usually regains the pawn, or great initiative.
I've no idea what the theoretical assessment of this line is, but it certainly looks at first glance as if White's getting a lead in development.
Happily Black can avoid the whole thing with 2. ... b6 and possibly a later ... c5.
1. e4 e6, 2. d4 d5 3. Be3 dxe4
is an interesting line against the French. I'm not sure it's much good really but I don't think it's any worse than the Milner-Barry and it's much less common (in my experience at least) so White can get the element of surprise too.
Originally posted by ivan2908Start with the mother of all gambits: The King's Gambit. You'll learn more about the value of quick development, the initiative, tactics and dynamic compensation from this than any other opening.
I would like to learn some gambit openings (not too risky or unsound ones). Where should I start? (Except 1. d4 d5 2. c4 which is hardly gambit at all 😛). I am looking them especially for blitz OTB games...
An excellent repertoire book for White is "Gambiteer I", by GM Nigel Davies. He advocates the following:
Danish Gambit: 1 e4 e5 2 d4 ed 3 c3 dc 4 Nc3
Wing Gambit: 1 e4 c5 b4
(Another) Wing Gambit: 1 e4 e6 2 Nf3 d5 3 e5 c5 4 b4
"Delayed" Mieses Gambit: 1 e4 d5 2 ed Qd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 Nf3 Bg4 5 b4
Fantasy Variation: 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 f3 de 4 fe
As Black, you might want to get "Gambit Opening Repertoire for Black" by Eric Schiller. The analysis isn't top-rate and there are the usual Schilleresque typos, but the gambits are a lot of fun:
Icelandic Gambit: 1 e4 d5 2 ed Nf6 3 c4 e6 4 de Be6
Portugese Variation: 1 e4 d5 2 ed Nf6 3 d4 Bg4
Schara Gambit: 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 c5 4 cd cd
In "Gambiteer II", Davies gives a limited Black gambit repertoire:
The Schliemann: 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 f5
Albin Counter Gambit: 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e5
Originally posted by ivan2908It rarely leads to a tactical game.. the sacrifice is positional and if you know how to play a solid game it usually equalizes, or at least draws 😛.
At a first glance Wing Gambit (1.e4 c5 2. b4) looks very interesting against Sicilian! Altough statictics in Fritz aren't too encouraging 🙂
Very fun, no where near as cool as the Poison Pawn
Edit - I should mention that there is a trap in the line that I've found several players fall into for some reason... it seems so obvious.
Game 4165946
Originally posted by ivan2908From a practical standpoint I think this is a good try for amateur level players. It has several things in its favour. One is that its extremely uncommon and if your opponent has seen it before, you can bet he has little experience with it. Therefore he will be really drawn out of his element and into yours. Psychologically he may also dismiss it as "junk" and become over-confident. And lastly, the typical Sicilian counter-play just isn't there in this gambit, and white's play is much different than what the Sicilian player usually comes up against. This can make your opp feel uncomfortable and have him really reaching in trying to evaluate positions and continuations.
At a first glance Wing Gambit (1.e4 c5 2. b4) looks very interesting against Sicilian! Altough statictics in Fritz aren't too encouraging 🙂
All of those things were true when I faced it here and I lost to a 200 point lower rated player. And that its "positional" makes it no less a real gambit since many gambits are designed to trade the pawn for some positional concessions rather than tactical play. Even the King's Gambit can be played positionally.
You should try out the Blackmar-Diemer gambit. It's really crazy. OTB I'm like 20-1-2. The two losses were both to (scholastic) 1800's, but I'm a 1200-1300 player and I take down 1500's all the time with it as white. It's not sound at the gm level, but for average players it works. The first few moves are 1.d4 d5 2.e4. If 2. ... xe4 then play 3.Nc4 Nf6 4.f3.
Originally posted by gaychessplayerI know I've said this before, but I do wish that GMs like Nigel Davies would just occasionally themselves play the openings they recommend in such books as Gambiteer!
An excellent repertoire book for White is "Gambiteer I", by GM Nigel Davies. He advocates the following:
Danish Gambit: 1 e4 e5 2 d4 ed 3 c3 dc 4 Nc3
Wing Gambit: 1 e4 c5 b4
(Another) Wing Gambit: 1 e4 e6 2 Nf3 d5 3 e5 c5 4 b4
"Delayed" Mieses Gambit: 1 e4 d5 2 ed Qd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 Nf3 Bg4 5 b4
Fantasy Variation: 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 f3 de 4 fe
Originally posted by courtratlwcthat might not work against a French player....
You should try out the Blackmar-Diemer gambit. It's really crazy. OTB I'm like 20-1-2. The two losses were both to (scholastic) 1800's, but I'm a 1200-1300 player and I take down 1500's all the time with it as white. It's not sound at the gm level, but for average players it works. The first few moves are 1.d4 d5 2.e4. If 2. ... xe4 then play 3.Nc4 Nf6 4.f3.