Learn the King's Gambit

C30-C39 · a repertoire for white · 7 chapters · 47 annotated lines

"A pawn for the initiative — chess the romantic way"

The King's Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.f4) is the oldest attacking weapon in chess: White offers the f-pawn on move two to rip open the f-file, seize the center with d4, and start a fight before Black's pieces are out of bed. This course teaches the modern, engine-checked treatment — no coffeehouse mysticism, just sound piece play. You'll learn the Kieseritzky Attack against the greedy 3...g5, how to dismantle the Fischer and Modern Defenses, why the Cunningham and Schallopp hold no terrors, and how to punish both ways of declining the gambit. Objectively Black can equalize with perfect play — that is the honest price of every gambit — but at club level the player who knows these plans wins the practical battle almost every time.

What's inside

• Chapter 1: Accepted — The Kieseritzky & Fischer
  Lines: The Kieseritzky Attack: 3...g5 4.h4!, The Fischer Defense: 3...d6 4.d4 g5 5.h4 g4 6.Ng1!
• Chapter 2: Accepted — Modern, Schallopp & Cunningham
  Lines: The Modern Defense: 3...d5, The Schallopp Defense: 3...Nf6 4.e5 Nh5, The Cunningham: 3...Be7 met by 6.O-O, The Modern with 4...Qxd5, Modern 4...Bd6 — holding f4 the solid way
• Chapter 3: Declined — Classical & Falkbeer
  Lines: The Classical Decline: 2...Bc5 met by c3 and d4, The Falkbeer: 2...d5 3.exd5 e4 met by 4.d3!, The Modern Falkbeer: 3...Nf6, Classical Decline: 4...Bg4 — the pin that isn't
• Chapter 4: Kieseritzky — The Full Tree
  Lines: Kieseritzky: 5...Bg7 6.d4 and 7.Nxg4, Kieseritzky: 5...d5 — the central strike, Kieseritzky: 5...h5 — the Long Whip, Kieseritzky: 5...Qe7 — the queen sortie, Kieseritzky: 5...Nc6 — challenge accepted
• Chapter 5: Fischer & Becker Deepened
  Lines: Fischer Defense: 6...f3 met by 7.Bg5!, The Quiet Fischer: 4...Nf6 5.Nc3 Nh5, The Becker Defense: 3...h6, Fischer 6...Nf6 — when Black stops defending f4
• Chapter 6: Cunningham & Schallopp Deepened
  Lines: Classical Cunningham: 4...Bh4+ 5.Kf1!, Cunningham: 6...O-O and the ...Ne3 trick, Schallopp: the critical 7...Qh4+, Schallopp: 4...Ne4 — the wrong forward square
• Chapter 7: Declined — Countergambits & Rare Moves
  Lines: The Spite Check: 2...Qh4+?! 3.g3, The Old Defense: 2...d6, 2...Nc6 and the pawn-grab race, The Panteldakis Countergambit: 2...f5?!, 2...Nf6 — the counterattack that isn't, The Nimzowitsch Counter: 2...d5 3.exd5 c6, The 3...f5 counterstrike

Free sample: the main line, move by move

• 1. e4 — Take the center. Everything in this course starts here.
• 1... e5 — Black stakes an equal claim.
• 2. f4 — The King's Gambit! White offers the f-pawn for two things Black can't refuse to give: the half-open f-file for the rook, and a free hand to build a full pawn center with d4. Every line in this course flows from this bargain.
• 2... exf4 — Black accepts — the critical test, and the most common reply by far.
• 3. Nf3 — The King's Knight Gambit, stopping ...Qh4+ before it exists. Develop first; the f4 pawn isn't running anywhere — if Black wants to keep it, he must weaken himself with ...g5, and that's exactly what we're hoping for.
• 3... g5 — Black clings to the extra pawn the classical way.
• 4. h4 — Hit the chain at its base immediately. Black would love a calm ...h6 and ...Bg7 setup with the pawn safely kept; h4 denies it forever. Now 4...g4 is forced-looking (4...h6? 5.hxg5 hxg5 6.Rxh8 wins material), and the g-pawn's advance leaves f4 loose.
• 4... g4 — The pawn lunges on, kicking the knight.
• 5. Ne5 — The Kieseritzky Attack — the sound cousin of the wild Allgaier (5.Ng5?!). The knight sits majestically on e5, eyeing g4, f7 and d7, and Black must spend time proving it can be challenged. This is the move that made the King's Gambit playable at master level again.
• 5... Nf6 — The main line: Black develops and counterattacks e4.
• 6. d4 — Ignore the threat and take the whole center — the g4 and f4 pawns aren't going anywhere. The bishop on c1 now sees f4, and e4 is a pawn White is happy to trade for Black's kingside dark squares.
• 6... d6 — Black puts the question to the proud knight.
• 7. Nd3 — The modern retreat, and the point of White's setup: from d3 the knight attacks f4 a second time. Retreating to attack — the f4 pawn, Black's whole trophy from the opening, is about to come home.
• 7... Nxe4 — Black wins the e-pawn — the fair exchange rate of this line.
• 8. Bxf4 — Mission accomplished: the gambit pawn returns, and look at the trade you made — Black's kingside pawns are shattered on g4 and h7, while White owns the dark squares and the f-file. Material is level; the structure war is won.
• 8... Bg7 — The bishop takes the long diagonal, pressuring d4.
• 9. Nc3 — Develop with tempo — the e4 knight is attacked and has no good square, so Black almost always trades. Don't fear 9...Bxd4? here: 10.Nxe4 and the loose bishop on d4 means Black cannot keep the pawn.
• 9... Nxc3 — Black swaps rather than retreat.
• 10. bxc3 — Recapture toward the center: c3 now bolsters d4 against the g7 bishop, and the half-open b-file is a bonus for the rook. Black will castle and hit back with ...f5 or ...c5, but White develops with Be2, O-O and Qd2 — full compensation-free equality of material, with the easier attacking plans. This is the modern Kieseritzky tabiya.

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