King's Gambit

Template:Infobox chess opening

The King's Gambit is a chess opening which starts with these moves:

  • 1.e4 e5
  • 2.f4 and now
    • 2...exf4 is the King's Gambit accepted, and 3.Nf3 the most common move.
    • 2...any other move by Black is the King's Gambit declined. 2...d5 is most usual.

The opening is called a gambit because White sacrifices a pawn. In exchange for the pawn, White gets better development and opens up lines that can be used to attack/checkmate the black king. It was more popular in the 1800s, when many Black players did not know good ways to play against it.

  • ECO code C30–C39. ECO is the Encyclopaedia of chess openings.