Kings Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Nimzowitsch Pickler Gambit
King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit Accepted, Nimzowitsch–Marshall (“Pickler”) Gambit
Definition
This sub-variation of the King’s Gambit starts 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5. After 3. exf5 the Falkbeer Countergambit is said to be accepted, and 3…e4 launches the Nimzowitsch–Marshall (historically “Pickler”) Gambit, where Black sacrifices a second pawn for rapid development and central control.
Main Line
- 1. e4 e5
- 2. f4 d5 (Falkbeer Countergambit)
- 3. exf5 e4 (Accepted, Nimzowitsch–Marshall Gambit)
- 4. d3 Bxf5 or 4. Qh5+
Strategic Themes
- Pawn Clamp – …e4 cramps Nf3 and seizes space.
- Piece Activity vs. Material – Black is down two pawns but gains lead in development.
- Open Diagonals – Bishops spring to c5, b4+, or f5, eyeing the white king.
- King Safety – White’s king can be stuck in the centre; Black often castles quickly.
Historical Notes
Invented by Austrian master Ernst Falkbeer (1851), later refined by Aron Nimzowitsch and Frank Marshall in the 1910s. Their analyses championed Hyper-Modern concepts—allowing the opponent pawns while attacking their base.
Illustrative Line
Even a “quiet” version can become razor-sharp after only eight plies:
Black is still two pawns down but already has both bishops out and pressure on e4 and f4; meanwhile White must decide how to develop the g1-knight and where to place the king.
Typical Plans
- Black
- Follow with …Nf6-g4, …Bc5 or …Bb4+, and quick castling.
- Target f4 and f2; consider a rook lift via …Rf8-f6-h6.
- Trade queens only if minor-piece activity compensates for material.
- White
- Challenge the e4-pawn with d3 followed by dxe4 or d4.
- Return material (f-pawn) if necessary to finish development smoothly.
- Choose a safe haven for the king—often queenside castling.
Interesting Facts
- ECO code: C31.
- Marshall reportedly won a café game in 17 moves with this line and received a standing ovation—and free drinks.
- Engines rate the start of the gambit roughly –0.50 (two pawns for initiative), yet in blitz it still scores well for Black.
- The name “Pickler Gambit” appears in early 20th-century German periodicals but is virtually unknown in modern opening books.