The Chess Journal

Chess Tutorials For Beginners

  • Home
  • Start Here
    • How To Set Up a Chess Board
    • How To Solve Chess Puzzles
    • How To Read Chess Notation
    • Complete List of Official Rules of Chess
    • Chess Terminology
  • Strategy
    • Openings
    • Checkmates Patterns
    • Tactics
  • Players
  • Resources
    • Best Chess Books By Rating Bracket
    • Books Mentioned In The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix (Real and Fake Books)
    • 7 Best Chess Books For Beginners To Cut The Learning Curve
  • About Us
  • Editor
  • Sign Up
No Result
View All Result
The Chess Journal
  • Home
  • Start Here
    • How To Set Up a Chess Board
    • How To Solve Chess Puzzles
    • How To Read Chess Notation
    • Complete List of Official Rules of Chess
    • Chess Terminology
  • Strategy
    • Openings
    • Checkmates Patterns
    • Tactics
  • Players
  • Resources
    • Best Chess Books By Rating Bracket
    • Books Mentioned In The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix (Real and Fake Books)
    • 7 Best Chess Books For Beginners To Cut The Learning Curve
  • About Us
  • Editor
  • Sign Up
No Result
View All Result
The Chess Journal
No Result
View All Result

Home » Chess Strategy » Chess Openings » Chess Gambits Complete Guide: List of Gambits Every Chess Player Should Know

Chess Gambits Complete Guide: List of Gambits Every Chess Player Should Know

Editorial Staff by Editorial Staff
in Chess Openings, Chess Strategy
Chess Gambits

Welcome to the ultimate guide to Chess Gambits. Below is a master list of Gambits that Chess players can study. This is a comprehensive list of gambits that shows a Chess board of the main line as well as an interactive Chess board with the sequence of the Gambit you can go through yourself right on this page.

Page Navigation

  • What is a Chess Gambit?
  • Gambits 101
  • Albin Countergambit
    • Sequence
  • Alekhine Gambit
    • Sequence
  • O’Sulliven Gambit
  • Belgrade Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Benko Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Blackburne Schilling Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Blackmar Diemer Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Blumenfeld Countergambit
    • Sequence
  • Budapest Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Danish Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Elephant Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Englund Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Evans Gambit
    • Sequence
  • From’s Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Godley Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Halloween Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Icelandic-Palme Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Jaedisch Gambit
    • Sequence
  • King’s Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Latvian Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Lisistyn Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Milner-Barry Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Nakhmanson Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Orthoschnapp Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Portuguese Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Queen’s Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Scotch Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Smith-Morra Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Soller Gambit Deferred
    • Sequence
  • Stafford Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Staunton Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Schara Gambit
  • Tennison Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Urusov Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Ponziani Gambit
  • Vienna Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Wing Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Petrov Cochrane Gambit
    • Sequence
  • Conclusion

What is a Chess Gambit?

Before starting the list, let’s go over the basics of Gambits. In Chess, a gambit is an opening designed to throw your opponent off their game.

When you gambit a piece, a pawn for example, it makes the opponent stop and wonder why you’re seemingly “giving up” a piece for free. We know it’s not free, but they don’t know for sure if you just made a blunder or are trying some sort of trick. A gambit is indeed, a trick. But like all tricks, sometimes the trick doesn’t work out in our favor.

Gambits 101

A Gambit is when you give up a piece, or sacrifice a piece early in the game in order to gain some kind of benefit. Usually the benefit being a rapid gain in development.

In general, it’s difficult to play gambits as Black as opposed to White. But since White has the advantage of going first, if you can pull off a Gambit as Black, it can equalize the position.

 

Note: We make suggestions on what to play and what not to play in terms of skill level and the overall opening. At the same time, we admit that it’s not our place, or anyones place for that matter to tell you what to playa and what not to play. You should play what you want to play whether it’s to try to win the game or simply have fun playing Chess and try something knew.

With that being said, let’s get started with the list.

 

Albin Countergambit

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5

Albin Countergambit Main Line
Albin Countergambit Main Line

The Albin Counter-Gambit is a variation of the Queen’s Gambit opening played with the Black pieces. As Black, you’re declining the Queen’s Gambit and gambit your own e5 pawn, putting the “Counter-Gambit” in Albin Counter-Gambit.

Sequence

This gambit isn’t the best one to play for beginners, but it can be played safely without knowing a lot of theory.

For more information, see the full guide on the Albin Counter-Gambit.

Alekhine Gambit

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. c4 Nb6 6. Be2

Alekhine Gambit Main Line
Alekhine Gambit Main Line

The Alekhine Gambit is a variation of the Alekhine’s Defense played with the Black pieces.

Sequence

This gambit isn’t the best one to play for beginners, it’s mostly a trick to be used in non-serious games for beginners.

For more information, see the full guide on the Alekhine Gambit.

O’Sulliven Gambit

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 b5 *

 

The O’Sulliven Gambit is another variation of the Alekhine’s Defense played with the Black pieces.

Belgrade Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nd5 *

Belgrade Gambit Main Line
Belgrade Gambit Main Line

The Belgrade Gambit is a variation of the Four Knight Game opening played with the White pieces.

Sequence

The Belgrade gambit has been played by many Grandmaster players. It’s a great opening overall to play for all types of players, beginner or not. It’s a powerful line to play, try it out.

Benko Gambit

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 *

Benko Gambit Main Line
Benko Gambit Main Line

The Benko Gambit is played with the Black pieces. Black’s b5 pawn is the gambit. The general strategy is to sacrifice your Queen-side pawns in order to gain advantage. The odds of White participating in this gambit is rather low, making this opening impractical to play at lower Elo.

Sequence

For under 1500 rated players, playing this gambit won’t work well. If the gambit is accepted, some of the lines that can develop are complicated and difficult to play. You’re better off playing a different one like the budapest gambit.

Blackburne Schilling Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4 *

Blackburne Schilling Gambit Main Line
Blackburne Schilling Gambit Main Line

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit is a variation of the Italian Game opening played with the Black pieces.

If you’re playing against this at White, of course taking the e5 pawn isn’t the right move. White can ignore the gambit and continue developing by simply castling. After castling, Black won’t be able to proceed with the gambit and will also have a difficult time developing from that point on.

Sequence

e4 is the gambit in the main line. White accepts the gambit and Black quickly dominates the game with the Queen and in just a couple more moves, Black can win the game.

Trying to play this as Black is dangerous in general, there are many ways White can play that will put you in serious danger. This is why you won’t see this gambit played in Grandmaster games.

For more information, see the full guide on the Blackburne Schilling Gambit.

Blackmar Diemer Gambit

1. d4 d5 2. e4

Blackmar Diemer Gambit Main Line
Blackmar Diemer Gambit Main Line

The Blackmar Diemer Gambit is a variation in the Queen’s Pawn opening played with the White pieces.

This gambit is best played sub 1500. This gambit isn’t as obvious as others typically are, making it look very natural to lower rated players.

Sequence

Below 1500 rated players, the Blackmar Diemer Gambit is a very powerful gambit to play that most opponents will fall into.

For more information, see the full guide on the Blackmar Diemer Gambit.

Blumenfeld Countergambit

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. d5 b5 *

Blumenfeld Countergambit Main Line
Main Line of the Blumenfeld Countergambit

The Blumenfeld Countergambit is a variation of the Indian Game opening played with the Black pieces.

Sequence

For more information, see the full guide on the Blumenfeld Countergambit.

Budapest Gambit

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 *

Budapest Gambit Main Line
The main line in the Budapest Gambit

The Budapest Gambit is a variation in the Indian Game opening played with the Black pieces.

Sequence

After the main line, the e5 pawn being the gambit. Black has to move the Knight on Nf6, the best square to move to would be Ng4. Ne4 would be losing by force. Ng4 is the only move that’s playable.

For more information, see the full guide on the Budapest Gambit.

Danish Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 *

Danish Gambit Main Line
Main Line in the Danish Gambit

The Danish Gambit is a variation of the Center Game Accepted opening played with the White pieces.

Sequence

For more information, see the full guide on the Danish Gambit.

Elephant Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 *

Elephant Gambit Main Line
Elephant Gambit Main Line

The Elephant Gambit is a variation of the King’s Pawn opening played with the Black pieces.

Sequence

For more information, see the full guide on the Elephant Gambit.

Englund Gambit

1. d4 e5 *

Englund Gambit Main Line
Englund Gambit Main Line

The Englund Gambit is played with the Black pieces when White plays the Queen’s Pawn opening d4.

This gambit shouldn’t be played in a serious game. Because if White doesn’t take the gambit, then you just lose the game. It’s a trick. If you don’t fall for the trick, you just lose. If you do land the trick, you’ll win.

So play it against a new player, if you want to embarrass your friends, let your stepfather know who the boss is, play the Englund Gambit.

Sequence

The main line of the Englund Gambit is simply 1. d4 e5.

For more information, see the full guide on the Englund Gambit.

Evans Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. B4

Evans Gambit Main Line
Evans Gambit Main Line

The Evans Gambit is a variation of the Giuoco Piano Game played with the White pieces.

Sequence

For more information, see the full guide on the Evans Gambit.

From’s Gambit

1. f4 e5 *

From's Gambit Main Line
From’s Gambit Main Line

The From’s gambit is a variation of the Bird’s Opening played with the Black pieces.

This gambit is a great opening for Black simply because White is playing f4, which is a strange first move in and of itself. So you’re immediately punishing White for a bad opening, further punishing White with a gambit if accepted. Furthermore, since White played such an opening, it’s even more likely that White will fall into this trap, accept the gambit and further burden their chances of winning. All because of one bad first move.

Sequence

This gambit has the potential for one of the most savage checkmates you’ll ever see as well.

It goes a little something like this.

For more information, see the full guide on the From’s Gambit.

Godley Gambit

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 Nf6

Godley Gambit Main Line
Godley Gambit Main Line

The Godley Gambit is a variation in the Caro-Kann Defense played with the Black pieces.

Sequence

Halloween Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nxe5 *

Halloween Gambit Main Line
Halloween Gambit Main Line

The Halloween Gambit is played with the White pieces in the Four-Knights opening. The gambit is the Knight on Nf6.

Sequence

Icelandic-Palme Gambit

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. c4 e6 *

Icelandic-Palme Gambit Main Line
Icelandic-Palme Gambit Main Line

The Icelandic Gambit is played with the Black pieces in the Scandinavian Defense.

Sequence

Jaedisch Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 *

Jaedisch Gambit Main Line
Main line of the Jaedisch Gambit

The Jaedisch (pronounced yeh-ish) Gambit is played with the Black pieces in the Ruy Lopez opening.

Sequence

King’s Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. f4 *

King's Gambit Main Line
Main line of the King’s Gambit

The King’s Gambit is played with the White or the Black pieces in the King’s Pawn opening.

This Gambit isn’t the best opening to play which is why you’ll rarely see this in any serious Chess match. You’re not gaining much, if anything  and you still have to play upwards of ten moves to develop your position. There is no immediate advantage to this gambit.

Sequence

Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 c6 *

Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit Main Line
Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit Main Line

The Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit is played with the Black pieces in the Scandinavian Defense Opening.

The benefit to this gambit is it allows Black to take control of the center after White captures the gambit. However, if White doesn’t accept the gambit and just plays D4, Black is going to have a tough position to play.

This gambit is mostly a one-trick pony that should be avoided in serious games.

Sequence

Latvian Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 *

Latvian Gambit Main Line
Main line of the Latvian Gambit

The Latvian Gambit is played with the Black pieces in the King’s Pawn opening.

This gambit is difficult to play, so for beginners and even intermediates, this isn’t the gambit to play in a tournament. It requires a lot of theory and knowledge in order for it to be a viable opening.

Sequence

Lisistyn Gambit

1. Nf3 f5 2. e4 *

Lisistyn Gambit Main Line
Main line of the Lisistyn Gambit

The Lisistyn Gambit is played with the White pieces in the Reti Opening.

Sequence

Milner-Barry Gambit

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3 *

Milner-Barry Gambit Main Line
Main line of the Milner-Barry Gambit

The Milner-Barry Gambit is played with the White pieces in the Advanced French Defense opening.

This gambit is very technical because the gambit isn’t played until move 6.

Sequence

Nakhmanson Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O Nxe4 6. Nc3 *

Nakhmanson Gambit Main Line
Nakhmanson Gambit Main Line

The Nakhmanson Gambit is played with the White pieces and is actually a variation of the Scotch Gambit. So this opening is actually two gambits. First you play the main line of the Scotch Gambit, which turns into the Nakhmanson Gambit on Nc3.

Sequence

Orthoschnapp Gambit

1. e4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. cxd5 exd5 4. Qb3 *

Orthoschnapp Gambit Main Line
Orthoschnapp Gambit Main Line

The Orthoschnapp Gambit is played with the White pieces in the Steiner Variation of the French Defense opening.

Sequence

Portuguese Gambit

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4 4. f3 Bf5 5. Bb5+ Nbd7 *

Portuguese Gambit Main Line
Portuguese Gambit Main Line

The Portuguese Gambit is played with the Black pieces in the Portuguese Variation of the Scandinavian Defend opening.

Sequence

For more information, see the full guide on the Portuguese Gambit.

Queen’s Gambit

1. d4 d5 2. c4 *

Queen's Gambit Main Line
Queen’s Gambit Main Line

The Queen’s Gambit is a variation of the Queen’s Pawn opening and played with the White pieces

Sequence

Scotch Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 *

Scotch Gambit Main Line
Scotch Gambit Main Line

The Scotch Gambit is played with the White pieces in the Scotch Game opening.

Sequence

For more information, see the full guide on the Scotch Gambit.

Smith-Morra Gambit

1. e4 c5 2. d4 *

Smith-Morra Gambit Main Line
Smith-Morra Gambit Main Line

The Smith-Morra Gambit is played with the White pieces against Black’s Sicilian Defense opening.

Sequence

Soller Gambit Deferred

1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 Nc6 3. Nf3 f6 *

 

Played in the Englund Gambit, the Soller Gambit Deferred is played with the White pieces.

Sequence

[Event “?”]
[Site “?”]
[Date “????.??.??”]
[Round “?”]
[White “?”]
[Black “?”]
[Result “*”]

1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 Nc6 3. Nf3 f6 *

Stafford Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6 *

Stafford Gambit Main Line
Stafford Gambit Main Line

The Stafford Gambit is played with the Black pieces in the Petrov’s Defense opening.

Sequence

Staunton Gambit

1. d4 f5 2. e4 *

Staunton Gambit Main Line
Staunton Gambit Main Line

The Staunton Gambit is played with the White pieces in the Dutch Defense opening.

Sequence

Schara Gambit

1. d4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 cxd4

The Schara Gambit is a variation of the Tarrasch Defense.

Tennison Gambit

1. Nf3 d5 2. e4 *

Tennison Gambit Main Line
Tennison Gambit Main Line

The Tennison Gambit is played with the White pieces in the Reti Opening.

Sequence

Urusov Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 *

Urusov Gambit Main Line
Urusov Gambit Main Line

The Urusov Gambit is played with the White pieces in the Ponziani variation of the Bishop’s Opening.

Sequence

Ponziani Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d4 *

Ponziani Gambit Main Line
Ponziani Gambit Main Line

played with the White pieces in the Bishop’s Opening.

Vienna Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 *

Vienna Gambit Main Line
Vienna Gambit Main Line

The Vienna Gambit is played with the White pieces in the Vienna Game opening.

Sequence

Wing Gambit

1. e4 c5 2. b4 *

Wing Gambit Main Line
Wing Gambit Main Line

The Wing Gambit is played with the White pieces in the Sicilian Defense opening.

Sequence

Petrov Cochrane Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nxf7

Cochrane Gambit Main Line
Cochrane Gambit Main Line

Named after John Cochrane, the Cochrane Gambit is a variation of the Petrov’s Defense opening played with the White pieces. White Gambits the Knight.

Sequence

Conclusion

Gambits can be very powerful openings to play that allow for rapid development and controlling the center of the board. Some are better than others of course and some shouldn’t be played at all depending on your rating bracket.

I hope this guide on Chess Gambits helped you. If you like articles like this, you may also be interested in reading other Chess guides like the guide on Checkmate Patterns and the guide on Chess Openings.

Consider bookmarking this page for easier reference in the future.

Previous Post

Why are Russians So Good at Chess?

Next Post

What Are Negative Effects of Playing Chess? 7 Reasons Why Chess Is Bad For You

Editorial Staff

Editorial Staff

The Chess Journal is all about bringing people interested in chess together to improve, learn, and become a chess genius.

Related Posts

Anderssen’s Mate – Checkmate Pattern

by Editorial Staff
January 18, 2023
Checkmates Patterns

...

Read more

How To Attack In Chess (Hit Like a Bulldozer Instead of a Feather)

by Saloni Sapale
January 2, 2023 - Updated on January 18, 2023
How To Attack In Chess
Chess Strategy

...

Read more
Must Read Chess Guides
Checkmate PatternsChess PiecesChess EnginesChess GambitsChess LibraryChess Openings

Chess Guides

  • 7 Tips on How To Get Better at Chess
  • 7 Tips on How To Stop Blundering in Chess
  • Does Chess Make You Smarter?
  • How Does Age Affect Chess Abilities

About The Chess Journal

The Chess Journal is a free resource for chess players to learn and master the ultimate game.

Support

  • About The Chess Journal
  • Terms of Use and Policies
  • Cookies
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

Categories

  • Chess Strategy
  • Chess Players
  • Chess Programming
  • Chess Resources and Tools

© 2022 - The Chess Journal - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Start Here
    • How To Set Up a Chess Board
    • How To Solve Chess Puzzles
    • How To Read Chess Notation
    • Complete List of Official Rules of Chess
    • Chess Terminology
  • Strategy
    • Openings
    • Checkmates Patterns
    • Tactics
  • Players
  • Resources
    • Best Chess Books By Rating Bracket
    • Books Mentioned In The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix (Real and Fake Books)
    • 7 Best Chess Books For Beginners To Cut The Learning Curve
  • About Us
  • Editor
  • Sign Up

© 2022 - The Chess Journal - All Rights Reserved