Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. d4/2...cxd4/3. Nf3
| Morphy 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 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. Nf3 | |
| ECO code: B21 | |
| Parent: Sicilian defence → 2...cxd4 | |
3. Nf3 · Morphy gambit
[edit | edit source]Rather than recapture the pawn with their queen, which would allow White to gain tempo with ...Nc6, White prepares to recapture with their knight.
This looks to transpose into a regular open Sicilian. Black may play whatever move they would have played after 2. Nf3 (3...d6, 3...Nc6 etc.) and allow the transposition.
However, the way to "punish" White for the irregular move order is 3...e5, securing the pawn. 4. Nxe5?? fails to 4...Qa5+!. White's best continuation is 4. c3, the Andreaschek gambit, reaching a position similar to the Smith-Morra gambit when declined with ...e5.
History
[edit | edit source]This line was popular in the nineteenth century. One of its earliest appearances was von der Lasa versus Mayet, 1857.[1] Paul Morphy played it frequently to reach open Sicilian positions[2][3] but also faced the line with 3...e5.[4][5]
Theory table
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]See also
[edit | edit source]
King's gambit
Accepted
Declined
Vienna
- Barnes ?
- Borg ?
- Corn stalk ??
- Duras ??
- 1...b5 ??
Zukertort