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Chess Opening Theory/1. Nf3/1...f5/2. e4

< Chess Opening Theory | 1. Nf3 | 1...f5
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Lisitsin Gambit
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7 black pawnf7 black kingg7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black pawng5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 white pawnf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 white knightg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 black kingf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 black kingh1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)

rnbqkbnr/ppppp1pp/8/5p2/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKB1R b

Moves: 1. Nf3 f5 2. e4

Lisitsin Gambit

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2. e4 is a very counter-intuitive move, as after the pawn is captured White does not get to make a developing move but must move an already developed piece again. However, practice has shown that the knight landing on g5 is hard to chase away and creates certain tactical threats (more than simply Nxe4!) that compensate for the lost pawn. This gambit contains various traps that black must be careful not to fall into, but will lead to approximate equality if black knows what they're doing.

2...fxe4 is the only way to challenge White's idea. "The way to refute a gambit is to accept it." - Wilhelm Steinitz

2...e5 transposes to the notorious Latvian Gambit. This may actually be a good practical choice for someone who knows nothing about the Lisitsyn, as it gives Black a greater initiative, but if white knows the theory in this line as well, black doesn't get much out of it.

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References

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