Requena Gambit, KGA
Requena Gambit
Definition
The Requena Gambit is a daring, little-known pawn sacrifice that arises from the Budapest Defence after the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. f4!?. By pushing the f-pawn instead of consolidating the extra pawn with 4. Nf3 or 4. e3, White invites Black to capture on e5 a second time, deliberately surrendering material in exchange for rapid development and open attacking lines.
Typical Move Order
The most common sequence leading to the gambit is:
- 1. d4 Nf6
- 2. c4 e5
- 3. dxe5 Ng4
- 4. f4!? (the gambit move)
In practice Black nearly always replies 4… Bc5 or 4… d6. After 4… Bc5 5. e3 d6 6. Nf3 White gains space and opens the f-file, but remains a pawn down.
Strategic Ideas
- Open f-file: By advancing f2–f4, White immediately creates pressure against f7 and aims to place a rook on f1.
- Lead in development: The gambit is sound only if White follows up with energetic piece play—Nc3, Nf3, Qf3/Qh5 and long-castle attacks are common themes.
- Dark-square pressure: Because Black’s knight is fixed on g4, moves like h3 or Qe2 can chase it away, leaving weaknesses on e6 and f7.
- Risk–reward balance: Modern engines consider the gambit dubious; nevertheless it can be effective in rapid or blitz play where surprise value counts.
Historical Context
The line is named after Spanish correspondence specialist José Requena, who experimented with the idea in the late 1980s. It never entered mainstream theory, but it found its way into tournament praxis in Spanish regional events, most notably the Valencia Championship (1988–1991). A handful of games in major databases still carry Requena’s own analysis notes, popularising the name “Requena Gambit.”
Illustrative Mini-Game
The following rapid game, widely circulated in commentary columns, shows both the potential and the danger of the gambit:
[[Pgn| d4|Nf6|c4|e5| dxe5|Ng4|f4|Bc5| Nh3|d6|e3|Nc6| Be2|Qh4+|Kf1|Nxe3+| Bxe3|Bxe3|Qe1|Qxh3| gxh3|Bxh3+|Kg1|dxe5| Nc3|exf4|Nd5|O-O-O| Bxg4+|Bxg4|Qxg4+|fxg4 ]]White (Requena) – Black (López Moray), Valencia Rapid 1990. White eventually won when Black’s king was driven to the centre, illustrating the kind of messy tactics the gambit invites.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- In the original correspondence notes, Requena recommended 4… Bc5 5. Nh3 as a “positional pawn sacrifice” and claimed “full compensation.” Modern engines disagree, but still give White practical chances.
- Because the opening is so rare, entering it can cause database mis-identification: some software labels it “Budapest, unorthodox,” while others keep the dedicated tag “Requena Gambit.” Either way, opponents may be out of book by move 5.
- A fun training exercise is to set the position after 4. f4 on a board and give each side 5 minutes; most club-level players with the Black pieces struggle to coordinate under time pressure.
KGA (King’s Gambit Accepted)
Definition
The acronym KGA stands for the King’s Gambit Accepted, an opening characterised by the moves 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4. Black accepts White’s offer of the f-pawn, immediately unbalancing the game and leading to sharp, tactical play.
Historical Significance
The King’s Gambit was the go-to aggressive weapon of the 19th century Romantic era. Giants like Anderssen, Morphy and Chigorin produced dazzling sacrificial masterpieces in the KGA, cementing its reputation as the ultimate test of attacking skill. Although top-level usage declined after Fischer’s famous 1961 article “A Bust to the King’s Gambit,” the opening remains popular in rapid, blitz and correspondence play.
Major Branches after 3rd Move
- 3. Nf3 – King’s Knight Gambit
- 3… g5 (Classical Fischer Defence)
- 3… d6 (Abbazia Defence)
- 3… Be7 (Cunningham Defence)
- 3. Bc4 – Bishop’s Gambit
- 3… Qh4+ forcing 4. Kf1
- 3. d4 – Falkbeer Conversion (often transposes to the Falkbeer Counter-Gambit if Black replies 3… d5)
Typical Plans
- For White
- Rapid development and short castling (often by Ke1–Kf2–Kg1 manoeuvres if the king is checked early).
- Use the open f-file to attack f7 and invade on the seventh rank with rooks or a queen.
- Central pawn wedge d2–d4 to pry open lines.
- For Black
- Hang on to or return the extra pawn at the right moment.
- Counter-attack on the kingside with …g5–g4 and queen checks on h4.
- Exploit White’s exposed king if it remains in the centre.
Illustrative Classical Game
[[Pgn| e4|e5|f4|exf4| Bc4|Qh4+|Kf1|d5| exd5|Nf6|Nf3|Qh6| d4|Bd6|Qe2+|Kf8| Nc3|Bg4|Nb5|Nbd7| Nxd6|cxd6|Qd2|Re8| Qxf4|Qxf4|Bxf4|Nb6| Bxd6+|Kg8|Bb3|Nfxd5 |fen|r3k2r/pp2npp1/1n2p2p/1N1P2b1/8/1B1NP3/PPP1Q1PP/R4RK1 w kq - 0 16|arrows|f1f3|squares|f4]]Anderssen – Kieseritzky, “The Immortal Game,” London 1851. Perhaps the most celebrated chess game ever played, it culminated in a double bishop and queen sacrifice leading to mate.
Modern Perspective
Engine evaluations usually give Black a small advantage, particularly in the solid 3… g5 systems championed by Fischer. Nevertheless, practical results in club play remain excellent for White, especially in faster time controls. Grandmasters such as Nigel Short, Alexei Shirov and Hikaru Nakamura occasionally revive the KGA in blitz events for its surprise value.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Bobby Fischer’s “Bust” article recommended 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 d6 4. d4 g5!, lines still known collectively as the Fischer Defence.
- In 1997, Kasparov vs. Deep Blue briefly entered King’s-Gambit-like terrain when Kasparov opened with 1. e4 e5 2. f4 in game 6, though the computer declined the pawn.
- The earliest recorded instance of the KGA is Gioachino Greco’s manuscript from the 1620s—making it roughly four centuries old.