Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. f4/2...exf4/3. Nf3/3...g5/4. h4/4...g4/5. Ng5

Allgaier Gambit
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkbnr/pppp1p1p/8/6N1/4PppP/8/PPPP2P1/RNBQKB1R b
Moves: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ng5
Parent: King's Gambit

Allgaier Gambit

At first it looks like the knight trapped itself on g5, since it has no safe retreat squares. But the idea behind 5.Ng5 is to sacrifice the knight on f7 and force the black king out into the open. This gambit has a better chance of succeeding in a blitz game where tactical errors are more frequent in sharp games like this, rather than in a correspondence game against a prepared opponent where there might not be enough compensation for the lost piece.

Black can accept the challenge with 5...h6 forcing the knight sacrifice; or he can steer the game in a more peaceful direction (and avoid the sacrifice) with the solid equalizing move 5...d5.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ng5

	5	6	7
	... h6	Nxf7 Kxf7
	... d5	exd5 h6	Qe2 Be7

References

• Fundamental Chess Openings (2009). Paul van der Sterren. ISBN 1-906454-13-2.

• The King's Gambit (2013). John Shaw. ISBN 978-1-906552-71-8.

• "The King's Gambit". The Gambiteer's Guild. Retrieved 25 Jul 2014.