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The Rousseau Gambit against the Italian

The Rousseau Gambit against the Italian

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j

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After having discovered the wonderful Jaenisch Gambit (or Schliemann defense if you prefer) I have recently started applying it on the Italian as well. I don't know any theory but apparently it's called the Rousseau Gambit. I don't know how sound it is but playing blitz on playchess it usually surprises the opponent. Nearly all games are highly tactical, both sides can fall it into a lot of traps and it's great fun. Here's a game I played:

time control: 3 min 1 sec increment
ECO: C50
I am black

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 f5 (the Rousseau Gambit, please correct me if I am wrong; usually there is a slight wait after this move indicating the opponent is a bit dumbfounded
4. exf5 Nf6
5. d3 d5
6. Bb5 Bxf5
7. Nxe5 Qe7
8. f4 Nd7!? (not very beautiful play so far and perhaps not the most correct moves but Nd7 looks to have a lot of merit and is a key move for the continuation)
9. Qe2 Nd4
10. Bxd7+ Bxd7
11. Qd2? (white puts the queen in a very awkward position blocking his own bishop from getting out. I suggest Qf2 and I don't really know what to play..) g5! (I have not analysed the game at all but I like the move, please feel free to reject the move, i am sure there is something.. I spent 35 seconds on this move)
12. 0-0?! (probably c3 was better?) 0-0-0! (black's better development is starting to tell)
13. Nxd7 ?! (white trades his best piece) Qxd7
14. fxg5? (white does not see the danger in time, i think c3 still is playable, now I can see no defense for white) Bc5
15. Kh1 Rhf8! (the obvious continuation but not so easy to discover in a blitz game, two pawns down I see no other move for black but what can white do now?) 16. Re1 Rde8
17. c3 (but too late!) Nc2! (Rxe1+ Qxe1 Nc2 is only prolonging the end)
18. Rxe8+ Qxe8
19. h3 Qe5 (it's all over now)
20. Qd1 Bd6
21. Qg4+ Kb8 22. g3 Rf1+ (Qe1+ K... Rf2# of course) 23. Kg2 Qe1 24. Be3 Nxe3+ 25 . Kh2 Rh1# with 4 seconds left!

I hope you enjoyed and I hope to get some feedback, I am sure you will find lots of bad moves!

Thanks for your time!

NL

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Originally posted by jaenischfan
After having discovered the wonderful Jaenisch Gambit (or Schliemann defense if you prefer) I have recently started applying it on the Italian as well. I don't know any theory but apparently it's called the Rousseau Gambit. I don't know how sound it is but playing blitz on playchess it usually surprises the opponent. Nearly all games are highly tactical, ...[text shortened]... o get some feedback, I am sure you will find lots of bad moves!

Thanks for your time!
As someone who does play the Schliemann (Janisch) on occasion, I certainly don't believe you can play it against the Italian. My first thought is that simply 4.d3 leaves black standing pretty uncomfortably.

j

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I have encountered 4. d3 and it presents black with the problem of how to get the king to safety, but I normally managed to get in 0-0-0 and have a nice kingside attack.
4. d3 Nf6 5. 0-0 Bc5 6. exf5 d6 += according to theory, for me that is very playable for black

NL

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Originally posted by jaenischfan
I have encountered 4. d3 and it presents black with the problem of how to get the king to safety, but I normally managed to get in 0-0-0 and have a nice kingside attack.
4. d3 Nf6 5. 0-0 Bc5 6. exf5 d6 += according to theory, for me that is very playable for black
6.Nc3 looks better to me. I would feel uncomfortable about this as black, since he is effectively the King's Gambit Declined with reverse colours and a move down.

NL

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"effectively playing" I meant

j

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on Nc3 fxe4 followed by Bg4 (and Qd7 0-0-0 etc) looks good for black or you may even go for the risky f4 instead of fxe4
I cannot find a game where Nc3 was played but I found the game Morphy-Rousseau, New Orleans 1849, where white played 6. Ng5 and eventually won.

j

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btw, does anyone know how I can post the game on a replay board?

K
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Riga

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Originally posted by jaenischfan
After having discovered the wonderful Jaenisch Gambit (or Schliemann defense if you prefer) I have recently started applying it on the Italian as well. I don't know any theory but apparently it's called the Rousseau Gambit. I don't know how sound it is but playing blitz on playchess it usually surprises the opponent. Nearly all games are highly tactical, ...[text shortened]... o get some feedback, I am sure you will find lots of bad moves!

Thanks for your time!
on 3...f5? white need to play 4.d4 with advantage.

D
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Quarantined World

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Originally posted by jaenischfan
btw, does anyone know how I can post the game on a replay board?
Unless you can pursuade someone to play through the moves in an unrated game there isn't a way. Posting the PGN of off-site games is the normal procedure as then people can cut and paste into their own application. You've effectively done that except you need curly brackets {} for comments to avoid upsetting the pgn reader.

j

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Thx deepthought, i'll provide the moves with the proper brackets instead:

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 f5 {the Rousseau Gambit, please correct me if I am wrong; usually there is a slight wait after this move indicating the opponent is a bit dumbfounded}
4. exf5 Nf6
5. d3 d5
6. Bb5 Bxf5
7. Nxe5 Qe7
8. f4 Nd7!? {not very beautiful play so far and perhaps not the most correct moves but Nd7 looks to have a lot of merit and is a key move for the continuation}
9. Qe2 Nd4
10. Bxd7+ Bxd7
11. Qd2? {white puts the queen in a very awkward position blocking his own bishop from getting out. I suggest Qf2 and I don't really know what to play..} g5! {I have not analysed the game at all but I like the move, please feel free to reject the move, i am sure there is something.. I spent 35 seconds on this move}
12. 0-0?! {probably c3 was better?} 0-0-0! {black's better development is starting to tell}
13. Nxd7 ?! {white trades his best piece} Qxd7
14. fxg5? {white does not see the danger in time, i think c3 still is playable, now I can see no defense for white} Bc5
15. Kh1 Rhf8! {the obvious continuation but not so easy to discover in a blitz game, two pawns down I see no other move for black but what can white do now?}
16. Re1 Rde8
17. c3 {but too late!} Nc2! {Rxe1+ Qxe1 Nc2 is only prolonging the end}
18. Rxe8+ Qxe8
19. h3 Qe5 {it's all over now}
20. Qd1 Bd6
21. Qg4+ Kb8 22. g3 Rf1+ {Qe1+ K... Rf2# of course} 23. Kg2 Qe1 24. Be3 Nxe3+ 25 . Kh2 Rh1# {with 4 seconds left!}


any thoughts on the game? where could white have gained the initiative?

j

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sorry misreply

j

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Korch,
Yes 4. d4 is good and presents black with some difficult tasks but it does also lead to wild games where both sides can generate a lot of tactical threats. 4...fxe4 5. Nxe5 d5!? 6. Qh5+ g6 7. Nxg6 Nf6 is a variation I have played numerous times now and escaped most of them with a win after truly wild games

K
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Riga

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Originally posted by jaenischfan
Korch,
Yes 4. d4 is good and presents black with some difficult tasks but it does also lead to wild games where both sides can generate a lot of tactical threats. 4...fxe4 5. Nxe5 d5!? 6. Qh5+ g6 7. Nxg6 Nf6 is a variation I have played numerous times now and escaped most of them with a win after truly wild games
White is not obliged to play 6.Qh5+? - they can simply play 6.Bb5! with advantage and initiative.

j

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yes youre right korch, Bb5 is the way to go, although few can resist the obvious Qh5+. I encountered Bb5 a few times and faced pressure after 6... Qd6 7. c4!
what do you think about 6... Bd7?

K
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Riga

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Originally posted by jaenischfan
yes youre right korch, Bb5 is the way to go, although few can resist the obvious Qh5+. I encountered Bb5 a few times and faced pressure after 6... Qd6 7. c4!
what do you think about 6... Bd7?
After 6...Bd7 white will win after 7.Bxc6 with 8.Qh5+

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