Gambit Chess Openings - Ride the Wave

The Maroczy Gambit appears in the French Defense after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Ne2 and Black can take on e4. In the early years the gambit was often accepted but these days it is popular to decline it.

It's also known as the Alekhine Gambit. He had some big wins in this line over players like Nimzowitsch and Euwe. They accepted the gambit and Alekhine's great powers and abilities in piece play decided things in his favor.

Again Black can simply decline and the game will go down the normal French Defense paths.

The Milner Barry Gambit is found in the French Defense. Usually in the French White is trying with all his might to maintain his center on d4 and e5. Black concentrates his forces against the base d4 and tries to eliminate the pawn there.

Here in the Milner Barry Gambit you sacrifice d4 voluntarily with 6.Bd3. After 6...cxd4 7.cxd4, Black must prepare the next capture with 7...Bd7. If he takes straight away there is a trap. 7...Nxd4 8.Nxd4 Qxd4 would lead to 9.Bb5+ and the Black Queen is lost.


7...Bd7 prevents the discovered check and play continues with 8.0-0 Nxd4 9.Nxd4 Qxd4 10.Nc3 giving you the position in the diagram. As White you have already sacrificed a pawn.

You have a lead in development. So how should you proceed? Sacrifice another pawn clearly. You don't need that lump on e5 anyway! Continue development without a conscience. Black can then decline the Milner-Barry or accept the challenge leading to very interesting struggles.

The Nimzowitsch Gambit is another gambit chess opening for you to play by letting d4 drop. 4.Qg4, a move that Nimzowitsch liked in various systems, is put to work here. Black will take of course with 4...cxd4 and after 5.Nf3 Nc6, Black's strong point is consolidated.

You have a lead in development and an initiative on the Kingside in return. After further moves Black may start action on the Queenside but this is okay. You should be able to get your attack going on the Kingside much faster than your undeveloped opponent can threaten your Queenside.

The kitchen gets hot quickly as in many of these opposite side castled games. It's just a question of holding your nerve and winning the race to mate. Winning tempi off enemy pieces with your storm trooper pawns is as crucial as ever in these situations.

The Alapin Gambit also resides in the dynamic French Defense. You play 3.Be3 asking Black if he wants to bank your e-pawn with 3...dxe4. If he accepts you will have neutralized his French style plans of an attack on d4.

Now you can give up your center and gain rapid development with the potency of the Bishop pair and the Queen. You must make good use of your dynamic power as it is fleeting. Avoid exchanges and build your attack quickly.

On the other hand if Black declines the gambit (he will usually do this with 3...Nf6) then the game will take on a typically French flavor. You can maintain the tension by keeping your pawn on e4 for the time being at least.

The Diemer-Duhm Gambit is a way to transpose the French Defense into a Blackmar-Diemer game. Again it's advantageous to castle Queenside, combining King safety with quick and easy development.

You will attack the Black Kingside with the usual Diemer patterns. If you haven't managed to castle your King will be floating around an open Kingside. This gambit will then be double-edged. You need to be the kind of player who likes walking a tight rope.

As Black you can choose the course of the game on move 5. After 3...e6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.f3 the game can go several ways. You can run with 5...Bb4, 5...exf3, 5....c6 or 5...c5.

The French Wing Gambit is an attempt to deprive Black of his French Defense ideas. You are attacking the key c5-pawn and forcing a response from Black.

If he accepts with 4...cxb4 you are down a pawn but his French plans are out the window. Your vulnerable point d4 is now under considerably less pressure.

Black can always decline your gambit. He may play 4...b6, 4...c4 or 4...d4. Accepting the gambit will likely lead to an open game. Declining it with ...b6 or ...c4 may see the pawn chains lock and a closed game will ensue.