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Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. f4/2...exf4/3. Nf3/3...g5/4. h4/4...g4/5. Ne5/5...Nf6

< Chess Opening Theory | 1. e4 | 1...e5 | 2. f4 | 2...exf4 | 3. Nf3 | 3...g5 | 4. h4 | 4...g4 | 5. Ne5
Kieseritzky Gambit, Berlin Defence
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black kingh8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7 black kingf7 black pawng7 black kingh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black knightg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 white knightf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 white pawnf4 black pawng4 black pawnh4 white pawn4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 black kingf2 black kingg2 white pawnh2 black king2
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
Common moves:
6. d4 - Main Line
6. Bc4 - Morphy Attack
6. Nxg4 - Anderssen Variation

There's a pawn on g4 if White wants to capture it, but it isn't a free gift: Black is counter-attacking e4.

  • 6. d4 is the main line. White is attacking a pawn and Black is attacking a pawn, that's 1 pawn each, so rather than resolve either of those situations, White makes to 2 to 1 in her favour! This move also ensures that once Black kicks the knight away from e5 by playing ...d6, it will be able to retreat to d3 without blocking the d-pawn. Playing 6.d3 wouldn't have that advantage, and would also shut in the f1-bishop.
  • 6. Bc4 was the move favoured by the world champion of the pre-World Championship era, Paul Morphy. White capitalises on the e5-knight's attack on f7. Black will have to close the diagonal with 6...d5 7.exd5, after which material will be level but White's bishop will be blockaded by its own pawn.
  • 6. Nxg4 is also possible, but White is in danger of remaining a pawn down after 6...Nxe4 and will have to enter some complications involving a sacrifice of the rook on h1.

Wikipedia has related information at King's Gambit

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