King's Gambit Declined: Classical Variation
King's Gambit Declined: Classical Variation
Definition
The Classical Variation of the King’s Gambit Declined begins with the moves:
1. e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5
Black politely declines the offered f-pawn and instead develops the king’s-bishop to c5, immediately bearing down on the vulnerable f2–square. In ECO it is catalogued as C30-31.
Typical Move-Order and Branches
- 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 – the “Modern” way, reinforcing e5.
- 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 exf4? – no longer the Classical; this transposes to accepted lines.
- 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 Nc6 – a crisp, Giuoco Piano–style set-up.
Strategic Ideas
- Pressure on f2. …Bc5 eyes the weakest square in White’s position. Combined with …Qh4+ or …exf4, mating nets can quickly appear.
- Sound Development. Black keeps the extra pawn in the centre and does not weaken the own king by playing …exf4 or …d5 too early.
- Delayed Decision about the e-pawn. After …d6, Black can still capture on f4, advance …e5-e4, or maintain the tension.
- White’s Plan. White usually plays 3.Nf3 followed by c3 & d4, trying to build a broad pawn centre and drive the bishop from c5.
Illustrative Miniature
The following short game shows typical motifs:
White grabs space, yet Black’s piece activity and pressure on e4/f4 give full compensation.
Historical Significance
In the romantic 19th century, accepting the gambit with 2…exf4 was considered obligatory. Louis Paulsen’s adoption of 2…Bc5 introduced a new, less risky philosophy: develop and hit back later. The Classical Variation gained respect after games by Chigorin and Steinitz showed that Black could neutralise the initiative without accepting structural weaknesses.
Interesting Tidbits
- Because the bishop appears so early on c5, old literature dubbed the line “the Polerio defence,” honouring Giulio Polerio (c. 1550–1612).
- In some correspondence games Black delayed castling, moved the king to f8-g7 manually, and played for …h5–h4—an echo of modern King’s Indian ideas!
- Computer verdict. Engines evaluate the position after 3.Nf3 d6 as roughly equal (≈ 0.00) but practical results still favour Black, reflecting the line’s tactical complexity.
Rotlewi Countergambit
Definition
The Rotlewi Countergambit occurs in the Queen’s Gambit Accepted and arises after:
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e5!?
Black voluntarily returns the extra pawn with 4…e5, striking at the centre and racing to flatten White’s structural advantage. ECO classifies it under D22-D23.
How It Works
Typical continuations:
- 5.Nxe5 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Bxd2+ 7.Nxd2 c5 – Black has regained the pawn and keeps active piece play.
- 5.dxe5 Qxd1+ 6.Kxd1 Ng4 – the queenless middlegame favours Black’s piece activity.
Strategic Themes
- Rapid Development. After sacrificing the c-pawn, Black gains time to develop both bishops and sometimes castles long.
- Central Tension. The move …e5 transforms the position from a quiet QGA into a sharp battle reminiscent of open-game tactics.
- White’s Dilemma. Accepting the pawn with 5.dxe5 concedes dark-square weaknesses, while declining leaves Black with a strong centre.
Origin & Historical Notes
The line is named after the Polish master Gersz Salwe Rotlewi (1889-1920). He employed the countergambit in several pre-World War I tournaments, notably at Karlsbad 1911, surprising positional players who expected quieter QGA play.
Though never a main-stream weapon, it inspired later central-break ideas in the QGA and even influenced sub-lines of the Slav Marshall Gambit (…e5).
Illustrative Game
Rotlewi’s own attacking win against W. Johner, Karlsbad 1911:
The game demonstrates how the central pawn storm can morph into a kingside attack once the position opens.
Current Status in Theory
- Considered playable but risky. Engines give White a pull of about +0.4 after best defence.
- Favoured by club players and correspondence enthusiasts who relish sharp, unbalanced play.
- Seldom seen in elite events after the 1960s, though occasionally revived in blitz and rapid to avoid massive QGA theory banks.
Fun Facts
- Some databases wrongly label the line “Janowski Countergambit.” Both Janowski and Rotlewi experimented with 4…e5 in the 1910s, but Rotlewi’s successes popularised the name.
- Grandmaster Simon Williams once used the countergambit in an online bullet marathon, scoring 8-0 with it—proof that surprise value still matters!
- Because Black’s move 4…e5 violates the classical rule “don’t open the centre while behind in development,” it is an ideal teaching example of why and when rules may be broken.