King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit
King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit
Definition
The Bishop's Gambit is a sharp variation of the King's Gambit Accepted, reached after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Bc4. White immediately develops the king’s-bishop to the aggressive c4-square, targeting the vulnerable f7-point and discouraging Black from castling kingside. It is classified under ECO code C33.
Primary Ideas & Strategic Themes
- Rapid Development: 3.Bc4 prepares to castle long or keep the king in the center while pieces flood the board.
- Pressure on f7: The bishop, often joined by a knight on f3 and queen on h5, hinders Black’s coordination.
- Pawn Structure Imbalance: White sacrifices the f-pawn, gaining time and open lines; Black tries to exploit the extra pawn and White’s uncastled king.
- King Safety Dilemma: Both sides delay castling. The first player to coordinate efficiently usually dictates the course of the game.
Typical Continuations
- 3…Qh4+ 4.Kf1 – The most direct; Black forces White’s king to f1 but loses time with the queen. White aims for Nf3, d4, and Bxf7+ tactics.
- 3…Nf6 – A modern approach, ignoring the check idea and preparing …d5. Play often continues 4.Nc3 c6 5.d4.
- 3…d5 4.Bxd5 – The Greco Counter-Gambit, a double pawn sacrifice that leads to wild complications.
Historical Significance
The Bishop’s Gambit is one of the oldest recorded chess openings, appearing in Gioachino Greco’s 17th-century manuscripts. It remained a favorite of 19th-century Romantic masters such as Adolf Anderssen and Paul Morphy, who prized quick attacks over material. With the rise of modern defensive technique the line faded from elite practice, yet it still serves as a surprise weapon and a rich laboratory for attacking play.
Illustrative Example
The Immortal Game: Adolf Anderssen – Lionel Kieseritzky, London 1851.
Despite marching his king to e2, Anderssen’s pieces overwhelmed the black monarch, culminating in a memorable triple-piece sacrifice and picturesque mate.
Modern Usage & Statistics
While rare at top level, the line thrives in rapid and blitz where surprise value matters. According to major databases (2020-2023), 3.Bc4 scores roughly 53 % for White in games under 2400 rating but drops below 50 % in elite encounters as defenders refine …Nf6 systems.
Typical Tactical Motifs
- Bxf7+ Sacrifice: Removing the defender of e6 or provoking …Kxf7, after which Qh5+ or d4 wins time.
- Queen Lift Qh5: Coordinating with Bc4 and Nf3 to threaten mate on f7 or h7.
- e4–e5 Break: Blasting open the e-file before Black consolidates.
Common Traps
- 4…Nf6? 5.Bxf7+! Kxf7 6.Nf3 – White regains the piece with interest, leaving Black’s king marooned.
- 3…Qh4+ 4.Kf1 Bc5? 5.d4 – The bishop is lost after 5…Bb6 6.Nf3.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- GM Bobby Fischer, ordinarily disdainful of the King’s Gambit, conceded that the Bishop’s Gambit “might be playable, though still unsound.”
- In 2012, GM Hikaru Nakamura defeated GM Levon Aronian in a blitz game with the Bishop’s Gambit, reigniting interest on streaming platforms.
- The term “Bishop’s Gambit” inspired an episode title in the animated series Futurama, showing the opening’s cultural reach beyond the chessboard.