King's Gambit Accepted & Bishop's Gambit—Jaenisch
King's Gambit Accepted
Definition
The King’s Gambit Accepted (abbreviated KGA) arises after the moves
1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4
in which Black accepts White’s offer of the f-pawn. The opening is catalogued in ECO codes C30–C39 and is one of the oldest and most romantic ways to begin a chess game.
Typical Move-Order & Branches
After 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 play usually continues with one of two main third moves:
- 3.Nf3 – the King’s Knight Gambit (by far the most popular)
- 3.Bc4 – the Bishop’s Gambit (covered in the next section)
Black then chooses between aggressive pawn thrusts such as …g5, solid development like …Nf6, or immediate counter-checks such as …Qh4+.
Strategic Themes for White
- Open the f-file: By sacrificing the f-pawn White hopes to place a rook on f1, pressuring f7 and the Black king.
- Rapid development & initiative: Delaying material recovery in order to seize time and space.
- Central majority: After d2–d4 White often gains central pawns versus Black’s flank pawn on f4.
Strategic Themes for Black
- Extra pawn: Convert the material edge by consolidating on f4 and then trading pieces.
- Returning the pawn at the right moment: …d5 or …f5 can neutralise White’s lead in development.
- King safety: Decide early whether to castle kingside (after …g5-g4) or queenside.
Historical Significance
The King’s Gambit dominated 19th-century “Romantic” chess. Legends such as Adolf Anderssen, Paul Morphy, and Wilhelm Steinitz wielded it to showcase bold sacrificial play. Its popularity waned in the 20th century when defensive technique improved, but modern engine analysis has revived certain lines, proving that the gambit is risky but playable.
Illustrative Game
Adolf Anderssen – Lionel Kieseritzky, “The Immortal Game”, London 1851
Begins 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ and contains multiple picturesque sacrifices culminating in 20.Bf6#.
Interesting Facts
- World Champion Bobby Fischer once called 3…d6 “a bust to the King’s Gambit”, yet later authored an article recommending Black’s 3…d6 only after 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4.
- Despite its reputation for wild tactics, the KGA has been played even in World Championship matches (e.g., Boris Spassky vs. Bobby Fischer, Reykjavík 1972, game 6—although Fischer declined the gambit).
Bishop's Gambit (King's Gambit Accepted)
Definition
The Bishop’s Gambit occurs after 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4, when White immediately points the c4-bishop at the tender f7-square instead of first developing the king knight. ECO code C33 covers the majority of its variations.
Key Ideas
- Direct pressure on f7: The bishop eyes the weakest square in Black’s camp, sometimes enabling Bxf7+ sacrifices.
- Rapid development over king safety: White’s king usually remains in the centre or goes to f1 after …Qh4+.
- Flexible pawn structure: Because Nf3 is delayed, White can play d2–d4 without blocking the queen’s defense of e4.
Main Black Replies
- 3…Qh4+ – the Check Variation, forcing 4.Kf1 and entering the Jaenisch systems.
- 3…Nf6 – the Schallopp Defence, hitting e4.
- 3…d5 – the Greco Counter-Gambit, counter-sacrificing a pawn in the centre.
- 3…Nc6 – the Classical Defence, simply continuing development.
Historical & Modern Use
Gioachino Greco analysed the Bishop’s Gambit in the 17th century, while 19th-century masters such as Louis Paulsen and Johannes Zukertort refined it into a practical weapon. In contemporary play it appears mostly as a surprise choice in rapid and blitz, though grandmasters like Hikaru Nakamura and Baadur Jobava occasionally revive it.
Sample Line
3…Qh4+ 4.Kf1 Nf6 5.Nf3 Qh6 6.d4 d6 leads to a sharp struggle in which both kings stand uncastled.
Interesting Tidbits
- Because the bishop moves before the knight, some engines rate 3.Bc4 as objectively “unsound”, yet practical results in faster time controls are respectable.
- The opening has inspired picturesque names such as the “Napoleon Gambit” (3…Qh4+ 4.Kf1 b5), though there is no evidence Napoleon ever played it.
First Jaenisch Variation (Bishop's Gambit, C33)
Definition
The First Jaenisch Variation—named after the Russian theorist Carl Jaenisch—appears in the Bishop’s Gambit after the sequence:
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ 4.Kf1 d6 5.Nf3 Qh5
By playing 4…d6 Black shores up the e5-pawn, opens a diagonal for the c8-bishop, and keeps the queen ready to return to h5 or even g4.
Strategic Features
- Controlled counter-gambit: Unlike the wilder 4…d5 (Second Jaenisch) Black avoids immediate central tension, aiming for solid development.
- Piece placement: Black’s queen slips back to h5 to maintain pressure on e4; Black often continues …Bg4, …Nc6, and long-side castling.
- White’s compensation: Lead in development and potential kingside pressure before castling short (often via Kg1).
Typical Continuations
- 6.d4 g5 7.h4 Bg7 – Black expands on the kingside, while White strikes in the centre.
- 6.Nc3 c6 7.d4 g5 – a slower build-up where Black aims for …Bg7 and …Ne7.
Historical Notes
Jaenisch analysed this line in his 1842 treatise Analyse Nouvelle des Ouvertures. Although overshadowed by sharper defenses, the variation has been upheld by modern engines as sound and is occasionally adopted by surprise-seeking masters.
Illustrative Miniature
Shirov – Hracek, Euro Cup 1996 (rapid)
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ 4.Kf1 d6 5.Nf3 Qh5 6.d4 g5 7.h4 g4 8.Ng5 h6 9.Bxf7+! Qxf7 10.Nxf7 Kxf7
White sacrificed two pieces for a crushing attack and won on move 24.
Interesting Facts
- Some databases label 4…d6 5.Nf3 Qh5 as “1st Jaenisch”, while 4…d5 is the “2nd Jaenisch”; older sources reverse the numbering—be sure to check the context when studying!
- Carl Jaenisch was a Finnish-born Russian officer who tried to prove chess is a forced draw; his deep opening analyses still influence theory today.