Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. f4/2...d5

Sicilian - Grand Prix Attack - Tal 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/pp2pppp/8/2pp4/4PP2/8/PPPP2PP/RNBQKBNR w
Moves: 1. e4 c5 2. f4 d5

Tal Gambit

2...d5 is the Tal Gambit, pioneered by Latvian grandmaster Mikhail Tal. It is one of the recommended counters to the direct Grand Prix Attack.

If white accepts the gambit with 3.exd5, black's response is 3...Nf6, threatening the d5 pawn and gaining time in development.

If white chooses to decline the gambit, it is usually done by 3.e5. While white has a large space advantage now, it is still considered to be a favorable position for black, because she can get her bishop to g4 or f5 before playing e6. The response 3...e6 resembles and can transpose into a line of the French Defense, the McDonnell-Labourdonnais attack, which is favorable for black.

Nowadays, modern Grand Prix Attack players play 2.Nc3 before playing 3.f4.

References

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.