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Disclaimer: The author accepts no responsibility for accuracy of the following or the effects of employing the information contained within this outline of the Bc4 variation of the King's Gambit, or King's Bishop Opening. Bibliography The vast majority of this resume is based on the Foxy Openings video by Andrew Martin, "Surprise your opponents with the ultra-dangerous 3.Bc4! in the King's Gambit." Additional material has been lifted from Stewart Reuben's, "Chess Openings, Your Choice"(1993);"The Gambit", Yudovich M.(1989);"The Complete Encyclopedia of Chess Openings" C33 (1997);BCO2 (1992) and "Winning Quickly With White",
Why play this garbage? As a true patzer one must rationalize two diametrically opposed concepts. That while chess is best enjoyed from a winning or won position, as a patzer losing is the most common option. So what is the solution? Join the local snakes and ladders league? Cheat, or bribe opponents? Play opponents who are even more hopeless? Develop a prostate problem and keep rushing to bog to consult Fritz 5 on a laptop (see 2.)? Buy every chess book and computer on the market and set up a chess shop that keeps you so busy that playing is no longer an option? No. Think again!!! Chose an opening repertoire so bizarre and reckless that even when losing, great fun can be had by forcing your opponent to play your type of game. On winning the occasional game, great joy is to be had in regaling members of your Club with tales of staggeringly deep and finely calculated sacrificial play, outstanding tactical brilliancies etc. Slightly more seriously: Relevant quotations: "....it is an excellent weapon in your armory up to grade 150", Reuben,1993. " A weapon of incomparable danger........................................." BCO2. " Its s**t, but I can't refute it." R.J.Fischer (paraphrased by author). "C'est pire qu'un crime,c'est une faute."- it is worse than a crime, it is a blunder (not really about the execution of Duc d'Enghein,but about anyone who plays 3...Qh4+ against the King's Gambit.) A taster of the type of game to be had: Blackpool Congress (U100 Section) 1996. 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4
(Opponents usually either rattle out their next move as though they have seen this "rubbish" before and don't give a damn, or think for a minute or so and then play the most obvious and common move) Qh4+. Other likely moves are 3....d5(b),Ne7(c) and Nf6(d)[see below for these continuations] Some opponents have even bottled it at move 2. and will decline the gambit with 2.d5,Bc5 or Qh4+ and occasionally the Nimzowitsch Counter-Gambit .The best lines of attack against these wimpy attempts to thwart the King's Gambiteer's fun are given later. (it is now a matter of personal preference whether you pause here and go into grimace/ head-slapping/I didn't think of that mode, or a wry smirk and calmly play they only move) 4.Kf1 [If you want the theory straight away, see (a) below] (this is all tried and tested theory: White will gain a tempo against Black's Queen with Nf3 and the centre with d4 and Nc3.The f4 pawn is nearly always regained and a strong attack is in the offing! Not being able to castle is of little significance as White's development is so rapid and the fun is under way). Bc5 (threatens mate in 1 on f2! It is at this point you know that your opponent has never seen this opening before and the next move wins the centre)d4 Bb6 6.Nf3 Qf6 7.Nc3 (threatens to leap into d5) c6 8.Ne2 (Fritz5 gives this as equal, but White looks better).
The rest of the game is only included for its' amusement value; d6 9.c3 Ne7 10.Bxf4 h6 11.e5 dxe5 12.Bxe5 Qg6 13.Nf4 Qh7 14.Nh5 f6?
15.Bxf6 Bg4 16.Nxg7+ Kd8 17.Ne6+ Bxe6 18.Bxe6 Rf8 19.Bh4 Rf4 20.Qe2 Re4 21.Qc2 Qg6 22.Bxe7+ Kxe7 23.Bb3 Nd7 24.Qxe4+ Qxe4 25.Re1 Qxe1+ 26.Kxe1 Re8 Kd6 28.Bc2 Bc7 29.g3 Nb6 30.Bb3 a5 31.a4 Nd7 32.Re1 Rf8? 33.Re6++
Alright, Black played terribly, but who cares?! White achieved the twin goals of, having all the initiative and all the fun.C33 gives a number of games which generally diverge at Black move 7.(Greco G.-N.N. 1620 6....Qh6 and White won on move 11.). Now some theory. Main Lines:
The theory section will be very limited, mainly because most patzers cannot remember theory, but also because many of the lines in this opening diverge very quickly (so if you are a 1.d4 merchant, who fires out your first ten moves like a robot on speed then go away and annoy someone else). Either : Black grabs the f pawn (most common) or has a pet way of declining the gambit. So the theory is pretty simple.
(a) 3....Qh4+ 4.Kf1 After White's King has stepped to the right one square Black will play;
So the idea is that although white has given up the right to castle, rapid development creates a quick attack and excellent control of the centre. Deep theory is not needed as positions are hair-raising and continuations are best worked out over the board - think for yourself!
(b) 3..... d5
4.exd differs from the usual Bxd5 and prevents black from kicking the white bishop and gaining tempo.
(c) 3..... Ne7 4.Nc3 c6 5.Qf3 Ng6 6.d4 Bb4 7.Nge2 O-O 8.O-O Qf6 9.e5 Qe7 10.Bxf4 Nxf4 11.Nxf4
(d) 3..... Nf6
This variation can cause white a few headaches and needs careful analysis as the pin on the Nc3 allows black to develop quickly and to put white under some pressure. Nevertheless, although black's moves appear logical with accurate play by white the attack comes to very little.
The Falkbeer Counter Gambit and other pathetic attempts to spoil the party. Every Kings Gambiteer must be prepared for Black to deviate on move 2.There are a variety of so-called busts of the KG or pet methods of avoiding a head on collision.In the FCG black offers a pawn of his/her own in an effort to gain rapid development and emphasize how silly f4 is as a move. 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 The Nimzowitch Counter-Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 c6 4.Nc3 (dxc6 only helps Black) exf4 Black is not interested in the gambit pawn but gets on with development. This variation favours White if an end-game is reached. The Classical Defence 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 The Kings bishop is on a very good square,but white can build an aggressive centre with c3 and d4 but at the expense of development. Other odd variations include second moves such as; Nf6,Qh4+ and d6. None of which should worry the Kings Gambiteer who is worth his salt.
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