Staunton Gambit

Chess opening Chess opening The Staunton Gambit is a chess opening characterised by the moves: 1. d4 f5 (the Dutch Defence) 2. e4!? White sacrifices a pawn for quick development, with the idea of launching an attack against Black's kingside, which has been somewhat weakened by 1...f5. Black can decline the gambit with 2...d6, transposing to the Balogh Defence, but accepting the pawn with 2...fxe4 is considered stronger. 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 on move 2 (an opening that normally starts with 1.e4), in which case playing the Dutch is no longer an option. Although the Staunton Gambit was once a feared weapon for White, it is rarely played today, since defensive techniques have been developed to neutralise it, and White scores only about 50 percent. The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings codes for Staunton Gambit are A82 and A83. Staunton Gambit Accepted: 2...fxe4 After 2...fxe4, play usually proceeds 3.Nc3 Nf6. Main line: 4.Bg5 The main line continues 4.Bg5, first played by Howard Staunton against Bernhard Horwitz in London, 1846. After 4.Bg5, a common trap