Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...f5
| Duras gambit | |
|---|---|
|
a b c d e f g h 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 a b c d e f g h | |
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) | |
| Moves: 1. e4 f5 | |
| ECO code: B00 | |
| Parent: King's pawn opening | |
1...f5? · Duras gambit
[edit | edit source]1...f5?, the unsound Duras gambit, offers a pawn to White in exchange for some development. This is a very disadvantageous move for Black: moving the f-pawn so early in the opening leaves Black's king exposed on a vulnerable diagonal.
2. exf5, accepting the gambit, picks up a pawn. Black has no straight-forward way to recover the material yet. The very first thing they must do is 2...Nf6, and they have no compensation for the pawn. Otherwise, Black has no protection from Qh4+!: e.g. 2...d5? (intending ...Bxf5) 3. Qh5+! g6 4. fxg6 Bg7 5. gxh7+ Kf8 6. hxg8=Q++-.
2...Kf7?? is a joke, intentionally awful continuation called the Fred defence. 3. Qh5+ g6 4. fxg6+ Kg7 5. gxh7 Rxh7 6. Qg5+ Kh8+-.
2. f4 transposes to the Wagner-Zwitersch gambit normally reached by 1.f4 f5 2. e4.
2. d4 transposes to the Staunton gambit normally reached by 1.d4 f5 2.e4.
2. Qh5+? leads to an amusing trap involving a queen sacrifice. 2...g6 3. Be2 gxh5?? 4. Bxh5#. Better for Black is 3...Nf6∓, then White's queen is forced to retreat and Black can pick up the e-pawn.
History
[edit | edit source]Oldřich Duras[1] (1882―1957) was a Czech chess master who became more renown as a composer of chess puzzles.
References
[edit | edit source]See also
[edit | edit source] | Wikipedia has related information at Duras Gambit. |