Can anyone list some "sound" gambits, that satisfy some of the following criteria:
- Maximum sacrifice of 1 pawn, i.e. no piece sacrifices
- Sharp, but most of the attacking is for the gambiteer (i.e. I am attacking, my opponent who accepts the gambit is doing the defending)
- Reputable: at least some grandmasters have played it
- Opponent needs to spend a lot of time thinking to avoid trouble
I am thinking of switching to a gambit repertoire, as my country mostly holds rapid tournaments. As such, playing sharp lines to burn off my opponent's time seems to be a viable strategy. In the event that the attack fails, I am down just one pawn which may still end up ok.
Thanks.
I've always thought of the Latvian Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5) as rather sound. It's pretty difficult to play though, for both sides. Concerning its reputation, I know that at least Spassky and Sokolov played it every now and then.
Imo the only sound gambits are: Marshall gambit, Marshall attack, Benko (Not counting QG, because its not a gambit). Other than that I would stear away from openings that are named "gambit".
and
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvI8ASwMpSg(bit unsound for high-level play)
maybe the winawer?
it's not a real gambit though, since you are regaining the pawn
White: King's Gambit, Evans Gambit, Scotch Gambit, Danish Gambit, Morra-Smith Gambit, Sicilian Wing Gambit, Sicilian Najdorf Poisoned Pawn...
Black: Albin's Gambit, Budapest Gambit, Englund Gambit, Falkbeer Gambit, Hennig-Shara Gambit, French Poisoned Pawn...
Lovlas is on the money.
Marshall gambit in the Ruy is the only sound gambit besides my favorite queens gambit.
@rocknrollsuicide Latvian sound??? isnt that e4 e5 nf3 f5??
As far as I know its refuted.
Latvian is quite playable especially in rapid. It has been played in correspondence.
Marshall, Benko, Blumenfeld, Kasparov ( 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d5 6.cxd5 Bc5), Smith-Morra (?), Goring, Icelandic and Portuguese Gambits, Schara-Hennig, Various Counter Gambits against KG, Staunton, Evans, Lewis ( 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.d4), Cocquio Counter ( 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d5 3.cxd5 c6 )( Engine-Tested), Winawer Counter ( 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e5 ), Chatard-Alekhine, Nameless Nimzo Gambit ( 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4. d5 ), Albin Counter ( I saw a match in an open tournament which was broadcasted live white fell into Lasker trap lol), Max Lange, Two Knights main line after 4.Ng5 and various sidelines incl. Traxler, Ulvestad, Fritz., Vienna Gambit, Steinitz Gambit ( there are many lol ), Meitner-Mieses Gambit ( 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Qg4 Qf6 5.Nd5 ), Urusov, Budapest, Grunfeld Gambit after 4.Bf4 Bg7 ( white gets busted after accepting. ), Krejcik ( 1.e4 Nf6 2.Bc4 ), Sicilian Wing Gambit, Belgrade, KG, Catalan, Jaenisch ( 1.c4 b5 ), Cochrane ( 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7 - That's why I quit Petroff ), Lisitsin ( 1.Nf3 f5 2.e4 ), Schliemann, BDG, Scotch, Double QG, Englund,
( Update if I remember others )
The most obvious one to me is the Queen's Gambit, which for some years hasn't been considered a true gambit because it's difficult/nearly impossible for Black to keep the pawn when it's accepted, and expect to have a sound position. I have good experience with the Marshall Gambit out of the Ruy Lopez, and the Benko Gambit. Contrary to what the chat is saying, I definitely don't recommend playing the Latvian Gambit, or any kind of Counter Gambit as Black. If you want to challenge yourself further, you can try the King's Gambit, Evans Gambit, or the Smith-Morra. The practical disadvantage of the King's Gambit is that you're in for a messy pawn structure, and not much King Safety, and need to study a lot of theory. I used to play the Evans Gambit when my rating was around 1600 with pretty good success, but I dismissed it after getting destroyed in the declined lines, and even some of the accepted lines. Just didn't want to take the time to learn the theory anymore. The drawback to playing the Smith-Morra is that Black's opening tasks become very simple, and natural after accepting the Gambit. Nc6, d6, Nf6, g6 in some lines. White will still be a tempo ahead, but I've played hundreds of Smith-Morra gambit games on the Black side in Blitz, and my win rate has to be around 90%. My opponents never really generate any threats, and I usually win an endgame up a clear pawn. To give you the best practical chances, I'd study the Benko Gambit, and the King's Gambit.
