The King’s Gambit

Beginning with 1. e4 e5 2. f4, the King’s Gambit is perhaps the most beautiful, and one of the most aggressive, openings in chess. Its reign defined the pinnacle of romantic chess— before our highly technical computer-like games of today— when creativity flourished and the game was treated as an art form. As such, the King’s Gambit strays from contemporary strategy rooted in computer calculations and rigorous study. Rather, the opening is a symbol of human creativity and art for its romantic nature. More importantly, the King’s Gambit is fun.

Although in the modern day the King’s Gambit is rarely utilized in the higher levels, it was one of the most popular chess openings for hundreds of years. In fact, it was one of the first documented chess openings: appearing in one of the earliest chess books, Luis Ramírez de Lucena’s Repetición de Amores y Arte de Ajedrez in 1497. The King’s Gambit remained a popular opening for centuries and reached the pinnacle of its popularity during the era of romantic chess throughout the eighteenth century until the late nineteenth century, where it started to decline due to advances in opening and defense technique. Nowadays the gambit is considered a dead opening by many, which is unfortunate because of how fun the opening is to play, and the quick, tactical games it can create. The King’s Gambit’s journey throughout the ages has been lengthy but romantic, reaching magnificent heights and falling to steep depths— which is funnily enough just like the nature of the opening.

The King’s Gambit functions best when black accepts the gambited pawn, which is called King’s Gambit Accepted. This leads to the most open and romantic games, typically defined by quick maneuvers and calculated yet technically impractical sacrifices. To illustrate, players in romantic games prioritize winning with style over winning itself; if each modern game of chess were a cold war, then romantic games would be the glorious battles of ancient Greece and Rome. Black can also choose to decline the gambited pawn with a move such as 2… d5 or 2… Bc5. This is called King’s Gambit Declined. For the purposes of this article, the King’s Gambit Declined will be overlooked because of its usually less exciting nature and the amount of theory that would have to be covered– enough theory would have to be reviewed with the King’s Gambit Accepted as it is.

If black accepts the pawn, the most popular move thereafter by white is 3. Nf3. This develops the knight and prevents 3… Qh4+. Now, white’s main objective would be to move the d2 pawn up two spaces to d4 in order to reveal the bishop and apply pressure to the f4 pawn. If white can snag the f4 pawn, then he or she will have an overwhelmingly strong center with two minor pieces already developed. Black would be at a major disadvantage and on the defensive just a few moves into the game. However, black has tricks up his or her sleeve. Black can either hold onto the pawn with g5 or threaten white’s e4 pawn with d5. g5 is usually black’s best bet and is the move most recommended by grand masters. In fact, it is often joked that g5 is the move that killed the King’s Gambit after increased opening theory around it was developed. Following g5, black threatens to move to g4 and oust the knight on f3. White’s typical responses include 4. h4 and 4. Bc4. With 4. h4, white undermines black’s effort to set up a stable pawn chain and practically forces 4… g4. 5. Ne5 is considered by modern writers such as John Shaw (I got this guy’s book) to be the main line after 4… g4. Meanwhile, if 4. Bc4 is played, then the typical moves are 4… g4 5.0-0 gxf3 6.Qxf3. As one can see, the amount of variations in a chess game increases exponentially as the number of moves progresses. Hence, I will stop here given this article is not a guide to the King’s Gambit. I will say however, my personal favorite line in the King’s gambit is 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ne5, which is called the Kieseritzky Gambit of the King Knight’s Gambit’s Classical Variation. 

The covered variations of the King’s Gambit are all riveting to play or watch and can lead to very interesting open or even romantic games. It is for precisely this reason the King’s Gambit is one of my favorite chess openings, and I consider it with great regret that the King’s Gambit is not viable in competitive chess play. Alternatives to the King’s Gambit include the Queen’s Gambit, the Vienna Game, and the Scotch Game, which I recommend if one would like to imitate the experience of the King’s Gambit without specifically playing the opening, whether it be for competitive or personal reasons. However, in spite of its drawbacks, the King’s Gambit remains an opening that reflects human creativity and is, at its core, fun.