Kings Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Hinrichsen Gambit

King’s Gambit Declined – Falkbeer Counter-Gambit, Hinrichsen Gambit

Definition

The Hinrichsen Gambit is a sharp sub-variation of the Falkbeer Counter-Gambit in the King’s Gambit Declined. It arises after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. d3!?. Instead of consolidating with the more common 4.Nc3 or 4.d4, White deliberately sacrifices another pawn with 4.d3, inviting 4…exd3 5.Bxd3. In return, White obtains a lead in development, open diagonals for both bishops and dynamic attacking chances against the Black king.

Move order and starting position

The basic sequence is:

1. e4 e5
2. f4 d5  — the Falkbeer Counter-Gambit, striking the white centre instead of accepting the pawn.
3. exd5 e4  — Black thrusts the e-pawn forward, gaining space and blocking the e-file.
4. d3!?  — the Hinrichsen Gambit, offering a second pawn to rip open lines.

After the typical 4…exd3 5.Bxd3, material stands Black +1 pawn, yet every white piece points toward the enemy king: the c1-bishop eyes h7, the f1-bishop eyes g8, and the queen can quickly reach h5 or e2.

Strategic themes

• Development vs. material — White invests one or two pawns for a serious lead in activity.
• Central tension — The advanced black e4-pawn is a spearhead and also a target; if it falls, Black’s centre collapses.
• Open diagonals — 4.d3 unchains the light-squared bishop and clears the d-file, promoting rapid piece flow.
• King safety — Both monarchs stay in the centre for several moves, so tactics abound (pins on the e-file, sacrificial ideas on f7/h7, etc.).

Typical continuations

• 4…Nf6 5.dxe4 Nxe4 6.Nf3
  White regains one pawn, keeps the initiative and often castles long, hurling the g-pawn forward.
• 4…exd3 5.Bxd3 Nf6 6.Nf3 Bc5 7.Qe2+ Qe7 8.Nc3
  A main-line tabiya in which opposite-side castling is common and both sides launch pawn storms.

Historical significance

The gambit is named after the German analyst Dr. Richard Hinrichsen, who published critical notes on the line in Deutsche Schachzeitung (1883). Although eclipsed by the more famous Muzio and Allgaier gambits, the Hinrichsen has attracted romantic attackers from the 19^th century (Anderssen, Blackburne) to modern blitz specialists. Its surprise value makes it a practical weapon even today, especially in rapid and online play.

Illustrative game

Frank Marshall – Walter Penn Shipley, New York (casual), 1900

Marshall sacrificed both centre pawns, castled long and launched a swift kingside assault, showcasing the gambit’s attacking potential.

Practical tips

• Best employed in blitz/rapid, where opponents are less prepared for off-beat theory.
• Study tactical motifs: Bxh7+, Qh5+, Nxe4 and sacrifices on f7 occur frequently.
• If Black declines the second pawn with 4…c6 or 4…exf3?!, seize the centre with dxc6 or d4, maintaining the initiative.
• Engines give roughly equal chances, but human defenders often falter under pressure.

Interesting facts

• The Falkbeer Counter-Gambit was briefly banned in side events of the 1851 London tournament because the organisers felt the games were “too short and violent.” The Hinrichsen Gambit adds even more fuel to those fireworks.
• Modern database statistics (2023) show the line scoring 54 % for White in games under 15 minutes yet only 44 % in classical play — a testament to its surprise value.
• Grandmaster Baadur Jobava used the gambit in an online bullet marathon, scoring 8/8 with it against titled opposition — evidence that even at high level the line can be venomous when wielded confidently.