The Staunton Gambit is a

chess opening The opening is the initial stage of a chess game. It usually consists of established Chess_theory#Opening_theory, theory. The other phases are the chess middlegame, middlegame and the chess endgame, endgame. Many opening sequences, known as ''op ...

characterised by the moves: :1. d4 f5 (the

Dutch Defence The Dutch Defence is a chess opening characterised by the moves: : 1. d4 f5 Black's 1...f5 stakes a claim to the e4-square and envisions an attack in the middlegame on White's ; however, it also weakens Black's kingside to some extent, espec ...

) :2. e4 White sacrifices a pawn for quick , with the idea of launching an attack against Black's , which has been somewhat weakened by 1...f5. Black can decline the gambit with 2...d6, transposing to the

Balogh Defence The Balogh Defense (also known as the Balogh Counter Gambit) is an unusual chess opening beginning with the moves: :1. e4 d6 :2. d4 f5 It may also arise by transposition from the Staunton Gambit against the Dutch Defense, 1.d4 f5 2.e4!?, if ...

, but accepting the pawn with 2...fxe4 is considered stronger. Although the Staunton Gambit was once a feared weapon for White, it is rarely played today, since theory has shown how to neutralise it, and White scores only about 50 percent. Black can avoid the Staunton Gambit by playing 1...e6 before f5. The drawback of this move order is that it allows White to transpose to the

French Defence The French Defence is a chess opening characterised by the moves: :1. e4 e6 This is most commonly followed by 2.d4 d5. Black usually plays ...c5 soon after, attacking White's and gaining on the . The French has a reputation for solidity ...

on move 2 (an opening that normally starts with 1. e4), in which case playing the Dutch is no longer an option. The '' ECO'' codes for Staunton Gambit are A82 and A83.

Gambit accepted

After 2...fxe4, play usually proceeds 3.Nc3 Nf6.

Main line: 4.Bg5

The main line runs 4.Bg5, first played by

Howard Staunton Howard Staunton (April 1810 – 22 June 1874) was an English chess master who is generally regarded as the world's strongest player from 1843 to 1851, largely as a result of his 1843 victory over Pierre Charles Fournier de Saint-A ...

against

Bernhard Horwitz Bernhard Horwitz (1807 in Neustrelitz – 1885 in London) was a German and British chess master, chess writer and chess composer. Horwitz was born in Neustrelitz and went to school in Berlin, where he studied art. From 1837 to 1843, he was part ...

in London, 1846.Howard Staunton vs. Bernhard Horwitz, London 1846
Chessgames.com After 4.Bg5, a common trap is 4...d5 5.Bxf6 exf6 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxd5 Qxd5 8.Nxd5 when White has regained his pawn, and since his knight is attacking the pawns on both c7 and f6, will come out a pawn ahead. Instead, Black usually tries to develop quickly and fortify his kingside, giving back the pawn if necessary, with 4...Nc6 5.d5 (White can regain the pawn with 5.Bxf6 exf6 6.Nxe4, but after 6...Qe7, White has no good way to defend the knight. Everything except for 7.Qe2 allows ...d5 or ...f5, winning a piece, while after the forcing 7.Qe2 Nxd4 8.Qd3 d5 9.Qxd4 Qxe4+ 10.Qxe4 dxe4, Black has an extra pawn and for no compensation, and should win with best play.) Ne5 6.Qd4 Nf7, while 6.Qe2 is a modern alternative.

4.f3

White can also try 4.f3 in the style of the

Blackmar–Diemer Gambit The Blackmar–Diemer Gambit (or BDG) is a chess opening characterized by the moves: :1. d4 d5 :2. e4 dxe4 :3. Nc3 where White intends to follow up with f3, usually on the fourth move. White obtains a tempo and a half-open f-file in return ...

, whereupon White gets good compensation after 4...exf3. So Black generally plays 4...d5 5.fxe4 dxe4. Black can also try 4...e3, returning the pawn in order to hinder White's development.

4.g4?!

4.g4 (the Bayonet Attack or Tartakower Variation) fails to provide enough compensation after 4...h6!

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