King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit, Maurian Defense
King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit
Definition
The Bishop’s Gambit is a sharp attacking variation of the King’s Gambit Accepted (KGA) that begins with the moves
1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Bc4.
By developing the bishop instead of the more common 3.Nf3 (King’s Knight Gambit), White immediately eyes the
sensitive f7–square and prepares quick piece play at the cost of a pawn.
Typical Move-order
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 (diagram after 3.Bc4)
Strategic Themes
- Pressure on f7: The bishop on c4, often supported by a knight jump to g5, targets the weakest point in Black’s initial position.
- Lead in development vs. material: White gambits a pawn to seize time; Black tries to keep the extra pawn and consolidate.
- King safety: White is willing to leave his king in the center (or even on f1) to maintain attacking chances, whereas Black’s king can become stuck in the middle after an early …g5 or …Qh4+.
Main Black Replies
- 3…Qh4+ – the most critical test, forcing White’s king to f1 and entering the Kieseritzky Gambit family (including the Maurian Defense).
- 3…Nf6 – Bryan Counter-Gambit; Black returns the pawn for rapid development.
- 3…d5 – Classical Defense; Black strikes in the center at once.
- 3…Be7 – Nimzowitsch Defense; a calmer approach aimed at swift castling.
Historical Significance
The Bishop’s Gambit was a favorite weapon of the Romantic Era. Adolf Anderssen, Paul Morphy and Henry Bird all produced dazzling wins with it in the mid-19th century. Its popularity waned once defensive technique improved, but it still appears as a surprise weapon—most famously in Spassky – Fischer, Mar del Plata 1960, where Spassky unleashed the gambit to defeat the future World Champion.
Example Game
Spassky vs. Fischer, Mar del Plata 1960 (annotated miniature)
[[Pgn| e4|e5|f4|exf4|Bc4|Qh4+|Kf1|d5|Bxd5|Nf6|Nf3|Qh5|Nc3|Bb4|Nb5|Na6|c3|c6|cxb4|cxd5|d3|dxe4|Nd6+|Ke7|Qxh5|Nxh5|Nxe4 ]]Interesting Facts
- The line has its own ECO code, C33.
- GM Hikaru Nakamura occasionally uses 3.Bc4 in blitz for its surprise value.
- The bishop sortie to c4 is so direct that engines once evaluated the position as close to winning for Black, yet over-the-board practical results remain respectable for White, especially in rapid formats.
King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit, Maurian Defense
Definition
The Maurian Defense is a counter-punching line against the Bishop’s Gambit characterized by the moves 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ 4.Kf1 d5. Black immediately opens the center, exploiting White’s displaced king while returning the extra pawn for active piece play. It is named after the 19th-century New Orleans master Charles Amédée Maurian, a close friend and playing partner of Paul Morphy.
Key Position
After 4…d5 the critical line continues 5.exd5 Bd6 (or 5…Nf6). Black sacrifices a pawn but develops rapidly, leaving White’s king stranded on f1.
[[Pgn| e4|e5|f4|exf4|Bc4|Qh4+|Kf1|d5|exd5|Bd6|arrows|d6h2|squares|f2,f7,e8]]Strategic Ideas
- Central counter-blow: …d5 challenges the proud bishop on c4 and frees Black’s pieces.
- Initiative over material: Black often sacrifices a second pawn (after 5…Bd6) for rapid development and attacks against the white king.
- King placement: White’s king on f1 cannot castle; Black seeks tactics based on …Bg4, …Re8 and pressure on the e-file.
Theory Snapshot
- 5.exd5 Bd6 6.Nf3 Qh5 7.d4 Ne7 → dynamic equality according to modern engines.
- 5.Bxd5 Nf6 6.Nf3 Qh6!? → Black keeps pieces active; Fischer analyzed this line favorably for Black in his notes for “My 60 Memorable Games.”
- Declining with 5.Nf3?! leads to 5…Qh5 6.Bxd5 Nf6 and a comfortable game for Black.
Historical & Modern Usage
Although conceived in the 1800s, the Maurian Defense received renewed interest after GM Boris Spassky used a related …d5 idea versus Fischer in 1960. Today it is recommended by several modern opening manuals as a practical, low-theory answer to 3.Bc4, especially in blitz where forcing lines matter more than objective evaluations.
Model Game
Fischer vs. Bisguier, New York 1963 – Fischer tries the Bishop’s Gambit, but Bisguier adopts a Maurian-style …d5 and holds comfortably.
[[Pgn| e4|e5|f4|exf4|Bc4|Qh4+|Kf1|d5|exd5|Bd6|Nf3|Qh5|d4|Ne7|Nc3|O-O|Ne4|Nxd5|Nxd6|cxd6|Bxd5|Qxd5|Qxd5|Be6|arrows|d5d1 ]]Interesting Tidbits
- Charles Maurian was more famous as Morphy’s confidant than as a tournament player, yet this line still bears his name over 150 years later.
- The variation often transposes into positions resembling the French Defense: Classical—with colors reversed and an extra tempo for Black!
- Because White’s king sits on f1, many games feature spectacular mating nets beginning with …Bg4 or …Re8, making the defense popular in online tactical puzzles.