What is a gambit?
A gambit in chess refers to a strategic sacrifice of material, usually a pawn, in the opening phase of the game. The player offering the gambit aims to gain an advantage in development, control of the center, or attacking opportunities in exchange for the sacrificed material. Gambits are often used to surprise opponents, disrupt their plans, or create dynamic and unbalanced positions. Successful gambits require precise calculation and understanding of positional concepts, as they can lead to both opportunities and risks for both players.
#10 - The Scotch Gambit
The Scotch Gambit happens after the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4. Instead of recapturing the pawn immediately with 4...Nf6, white sacrifices a pawn with 4...Bc5, offering it as a gambit. This daring move aims to seize control of the center and create active piece play, putting pressure on black's position right from the start. The Scotch Gambit leads to sharp and tactical positions where both sides must navigate carefully to maintain their advantage or counter their opponent's aggressive intentions.
Example Game:
In this line the material is even, however White is able to achieve a much more active position. Additionally, black is under some pressure and accurate play will be required to continue the game. #9 Evans Gambit The Evans Gambit arises from the Italian Game after the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4. In this gambit, White sacrifices a pawn by pushing the b4 pawn forward, offering it as a gambit to Black. The idea behind the Evans Gambit is to quickly gain control of the center and open up lines for rapid development, aiming to launch a swift and powerful attack against Black's position. By sacrificing material, White aims to create active piece play and seize the initiative, putting pressure on Black from the outset. The Evans Gambit leads to dynamic and tactical positions, where both players must navigate carefully to secure an advantage or fend off their opponent's aggressive intentions. Despite its sacrificial nature, the Evans Gambit has been a popular and enduring choice for players seeking to surprise their opponents and create imbalanced and exciting games. Example Game: One of Bobby Fischer's games featuring the Evans Gambit occurred during the 1963 United States Chess Championship against Reuben Fine, where Fischer delivers a stunning mating idea (if only Reuben didn't resign) #8 - Vienna Gambit The Vienna Gambit happens after the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4. In this gambit, White sacrifices a pawn by advancing the f-pawn, offering it to Black in exchange for rapid development and active piece play. Example Game: #7 - Queens Gambit (although some may not consider this a true gambit) The Queen's Gambit is one of the most studied openings in chess, characterized by the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4. In this opening, White offers a pawn sacrifice to Black with the aim of gaining control of the center and establishing a strong pawn structure. Its popularity stems from its effectiveness at all levels of play, from beginner to grandmaster, as well as its rich history and numerous famous games played by some of the greatest players in chess history. Additionally, the recent surge in interest in the Queen's Gambit, fueled by the Netflix miniseries of the same name, has further contributed to its widespread appeal and enduring popularity among chess enthusiasts worldwide. Example Game: In this game we see how Black will ultimately suffer trying to hold on to their pawn on C4; ironically enough, White never actually takes the pawn back as their are better moves in this particular line that lead to a devastating attack against Black's king. #5 - Kings Gambit (my personal favorite) The King's Gambit originates from the Romantic Era of the 19th century. Most notably, Adolf Anderssen’s famous game against Lionel Kieseritzky in 1851, known as “The Immortal Game”. After the moves 1.e4 e5 2.f4, White offers a pawn to Black, weaking Whites king side substantially with the aim of seizing control of the center and creating very sharp and often times, decisive games. Example Game: This is the game know as "The Immortal Game" and you must understand that it was played in the 19th century - that means no computers! None the less, Adolf Anderssen displays a very high level of chess brilliancy. #4 - Stafford Gambit The Stafford Gambit is a lesser-known but intriguing opening in chess that gained popularity thanks to the efforts of Eric Rosen, a prominent YouTube chess personality. The Stafford Gambit arises after the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nc6, where Black sacrifices a knight to disrupt White's center and create counterattacking chances. While the Stafford Gambit had been known for some time, it wasn't until Eric Rosen showcased it on his YouTube channel that it gained widespread attention among the chess community. Example Game: This is the first game in an famous Eric Rosen video that tallied over 6 million views! In a bullet game against a 2100-player Eric Rosen was able to checkmate his opponent in just 10 moves!!! Check out this YouTube video where you can watch him play the game: #3 - Benko Gambit The Benko Gambit starts with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5. Named after the Hungarian-American player Pal Benko, who introduced it to high-level chess in the 1960s, the Benko Gambit involves sacrificing a pawn on the b5-square in exchange for rapid development, active piece play, and long-term pressure on White's queenside pawns. By initiating this gambit, Black aims to create imbalanced, where the initiative and attacking chances compensate for the temporary material deficit. The Benko Gambit is renowned for its strategic depth, as well as its potential to lead to rich and complex middlegame positions that favor the player with superior understanding of pawn structures and dynamic play. Example Game: This Benko Gambit was played by Magnus Carlson against Leif Erlend Johannessen in the Midnight Sun Chess Challenge - 2006. A very instructive middle and end game with a full piece sacrifice (a brilliant move according to Stockfish 16) by Magnus to gain a clear advantage from White's very weakened King. Check out how Magnus used this sacrifice to make his opponent resign on move 36. #2 - Halloween Gambit It isn't spooky season but the Halloween Gambit is certainly a fun and viable option for those looking for excitement! The Halloween Gambit is an audacious opening in chess that starts with the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nxe5. Also known as the Müller-Schulze Gambit or the Two Knights Variation, the Halloween Gambit involves a daring pawn sacrifice by White on the fourth move, offering the knight on e5 to create an imbalanced and chaotic position right from the start. While the Halloween Gambit is not as commonly played at the highest levels of chess due to its risky and speculative nature, it remains a popular choice among creative and adventurous players looking to inject excitement and unpredictability into their games. Check out this game where White enjoys a substantial center and is able to play with 91.9% accuracy after the slight mistake 7. Qf3. Even so, it has its merit with the added pressure on squares f7 and b7 after white develops their bishop to c4. Click through the game to find out how White is able to deploy an attack on the queen side! #1 - Danish Gambit The Danish Gambit is a sharp and aggressive opening after the moves 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3. Named after the Danish players who popularized it in the 19th century, the Danish Gambit involves sacrificing a central pawn on d4 and c3 to quickly mobilize White's bishops to launch a fierce attack against Black's position. Key Takeaways - By 4MChess Editors 
