King's Gambit - Falkbeer Countergambit (2...d5)

Main line

The chapter's main line, with the comments from the course.

1. 1. e4 e5 2. f4

   Black takes the center, so we offer up our f-pawn for quick development and kingside pressure.

2. 2... d5

   The Falkbeer Countergambit, Black's sharpest response, played about 17% of the time.

3. 3. exd5

   We must capture, never play fxe5 which loses to Qh4+ and wins our rook.

4. 3... e4

   Black's main try, the Staunton Line, but it actually helps us get a slight edge.

5. 4. d3

   The Charousek Gambit, we immediately challenge Black's annoying e4 pawn advance.

6. 4... Nf6

   Black's main move, played 59% of the time, with tons of branches ahead.

7. 5. dxe4

   Time to kick out that annoying e4 pawn.

8. 5... Nxe4

   Black takes back almost every time, so most of our variations start from this position.

9. 6. Nf3

   In the Falkbeer we develop the knight early, unlike the King's Bishop Gambit where we wait for Black's queen check.

10. 6... Bc5

    Black targets f2 but this aggressive move isn't best, we're already up +0.7.

11. 7. Qe2

    The pin on the e4 knight puts Black on the defensive despite the bishop's scary placement.

12. 7... O-O

    Black tries to break the pin by castling, but this is much weaker than 7...Qe7.

13. 8. Qxe4

    We need nerves of steel for this queen trade.

14. 8... Re8 9. Ne5

    Safe at last, our f-pawn defends e5, so the queen can't be pinned.

15. 9... f6 10. Bd3

    Development with a massive threat on h7.

16. 10... g6 11. Nc3

    We know the e5 knight is doomed, so let's just develop normally.

17. 11... fxe5 12. fxe5

Other chapters

• King's Gambit Accepted (2...exf4)
• Queen's Knight Defense (2...Nc6)
• King's Gambit Declined & Sidelines (2...d6, Bc5, Nf6, Qh4+)