French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation, Reuter Gambit
French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation, Reuter Gambit
Definition
The Reuter Gambit is an aggressive sub-line of the La Bourdonnais Variation in the French Defense, arising after the moves 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4. Here Black deliberately sacrifices the d5-pawn with 7…cxd4, inviting 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 to reach a dynamic position where Black gains rapid piece play against White’s exposed queen and weakened king.
Typical Move Order
The most common sequence is:
- e4 e6
- d4 d5
- Nc3 Bb4 (Winawer)
- e5 c5
- a3 Bxc3+
- bxc3 Ne7 (La Bourdonnais Variation)
- Qg4 cxd4 !?
- Qxg7 Rg8
- Qxh7 Qc7
After 10. Ne2 (10. Kd1 also occurs) Black continues with ideas such as …Nbc6, …Nd7, and sometimes …Nf5, compensating for the pawn by hampering White’s development.
Strategic Themes
- Time vs. Material: Black is a pawn down but gains several tempi attacking the queen on h7 and the light squares around White’s king.
- Piece Activity: The rook on g8 is instantly active, the bishop on c8 often emerges via f5 or g4, and Black’s knights target c3, d4 and f5 squares.
- King Safety: White’s queen excursion delays kingside development; castling may be postponed or forced queenside, where Black’s pawn mass (…c5-c4) can become menacing.
- Central Control: By challenging e5 and reclaiming d4, Black hopes to undermine White’s space advantage.
Historical Notes
• The parent line 5. a3 was championed by the 19-century French legend
Louis-Charles Mahé de La Bourdonnais.
• The sacrificial idea 7…cxd4 is credited to the German master
Friedrich Reuter, who employed it in correspondence play in the
1930s. Modern engines confirm that Black obtains practical chances despite
being a pawn down, giving the gambit fresh relevance in rapid and blitz time
controls.
Illustrative Game
[[Pgn| e4|e6|d4|d5|Nc3|Bb4|e5|c5|a3|Bxc3+|bxc3|Ne7|Qg4|cxd4|Qxg7|Rg8|Qxh7|Qc7|Ne2|dxc3|f4|Nbc6|h4|Bd7|h5|0-0-0 |fen|| |arrows|g7g8,g8g2|squares|h7,g7,c3,e5]]The game reaches the critical tabiya after 18…dxc3. Black’s pawn deficit is balanced by active pieces and threats against g2 and e5.
Practical Tips
- White players should study quiet sideline 7.Nf3 to avoid the gambit if they prefer calmer waters.
- After accepting the pawn, White must return material or play precisely to consolidate.
- Black should avoid premature queen trades; keeping major pieces amplifies attacking chances.
Fun Fact
In online blitz databases the Reuter Gambit scores close to 50 % for Black—remarkable for a pawn sacrifice—thanks to the surprise factor and the difficulty humans face in coordinating White’s pieces while babysitting the queen on h7.