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1.Opening

King's Gambit

You play WhiteC39RomanticAdvanced

The swashbuckling gambit of the 1800s. Sacrifice a pawn on move two to rip open the f-file.

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Nf6 …

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Kieseritzky Gambit: position after 8 moves8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h
Kieseritzky Gambit: position after 8 moves
2.Ideas

What the opening is about

Key ideas

  1. f4 deflects the e5 pawn so White can dominate the center with d4.
  2. Nf3 blocks ...Qh4+ — never forget that check.
  3. h4 breaks up Black's kingside pawn chain before it gets comfortable.
  4. Ne5 and Bc4 combine to hit f7.
3.Main line

Main line · 15 moves

Kieseritzky Gambit

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Your moves Opponent
No. White Black1
e4Claims the center.
e5Black mirrors.
2
f4The King's Gambit: offers a pawn to lure the e5 pawn away and open the f-file.
exf4Black accepts the gambit.
3
Nf3Develops and stops ...Qh4+, which would be very annoying with the f-pawn gone.
g5Black defends the extra pawn on f4 and plans ...g4 to kick the knight.
After 3…g5
After 3…g5
No. White Black4
h4Hits g5 right away to break up Black's pawn chain.
g4Black pushes past and kicks the knight.
5
Ne5The Kieseritzky: the knight jumps to a strong central square, eyeing g4 and f7.
Nf6Develops and counterattacks e4.
6
Bc4The bishop joins the knight in aiming at f7.
d5Blocks the bishop's diagonal and frees Black's c8 bishop.
After 6…d5
After 6…d5
No. White Black7
exd5Takes, opening the e-file toward Black's king.
Bd6Develops and challenges the strong e5 knight.
8
d4Supports the knight and opens the c1 bishop, which will try to win back f4.
After 8.d4
After 8.d4
4.Play

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5.More

More 1.e4 openings