Gambit
Under a Gambit ( dt [ gambɪt ], Engl. [ Gæmbɪt ], Gambetto Italian, Spanish gambito ) refers to a chess opening in which a farmer (or several farmers ) or a minor piece for a tactical or sometimes strategic compensation is left to the opponents.
The intention can be summed up simply: " The Gambit player tries at the price of a victim already in the opening to turn the tide in his favor. " For the sacrificed material increased speed and lead in development is usually achieved.
Etymology
The term was first used in 1561 to Gambit work of the Spaniard Ruy López de Segura. The word comes from Italian, as Ruy López indicates, and is apparently a technical term borrowed from the ring sport - in the sense of dare il Gambetto ( one leg pose ). After use by Ruy López, the term was later adopted in other languages . In contrast, a derivation from the Arabic word ġānibī ( "lateral" ) has been suggested. But for this purpose are known, no further documents.
The plural form is Gambit (rarely in addition also gambits ), but is not commonly used in the German chess literature.
Basics
A Gambit can be accepted or rejected by the opponents. Receives the gambit player sufficient compensation, as is referred to the gambit as correct. Compensation may be in the form of development advantage and attack opportunities if the gambit causes positional or tactical advantages ( opening of a critical line, deflecting an opponent's piece, etc.). The correctness of individual gambits is often controversial. Practical testing and detailed analyzes help to clarify these issues.
In some cases it is possible that the opponent's gambit not only refuses, but responds with a counter-gambit. This term also commonly Gambit openings of the second player to be designated. A fake Gambit is when no real victim is present and for example the capturing pawn (assuming the alleged Gambit ) over the rest can not be claimed. One such case is when the Queen's Gambit, but in which, for historical reasons - is being held at the traditional name - and in analogy to the King's Gambit. Conversely, there are openings such as the Marshall Attack, whose name the Gambit character can not be identified.
The psychology and the element of surprise play a major role in Gambit openings. The game is brought upon acceptance of the gambits material off balance and made a quiet, positional game course in question. The attacker is taking a calculated risk if the selected Gambit variant is known as doubtful. This disadvantage can be compensated by it accurate theoretical knowledge and the psychological pressure moment. Furthermore, to consider the rating of the opponent into the equation: as the Grand Master Fritz Sämisch took the view that "any gambit playable " is when 1 ) " an imaginative attack and combo player " and that 2) " if you play more than his opponent. "
The Gambit game plays a greater role than in computer chess, in which psychological aspects hidden in the human chess. At the level of grand master chess controversial Gambit variants are also far less likely to use than among amateur players.
History of the Gambit game
Since the reform of the European chess game through the expansion of possible moves, which began in the last quarter of the 15th century, the Gambit variants drew attention with its lively character match up. In the early stages of opening theory and in principle until well into the 19th century, partly forced Zugwendungen many Gambit variants of the open-ended games and particularly the branched King Gambit took a considerable part of the " book knowledge" (but why these openings must not have necessarily prevailed in the match practice ).
Finally, the psychological aspects of time were more to evaluate than today. Thus commanded, even under strong players often personal honor to take a risky gambit. Conversely took " bold " Gambit players the incorrectness of a victim in purchasing. Kuehne variants such as the piece sacrifice of Muzio Gambit found admiration, and even more farmers were sometimes sacrificed without hesitation for the initiative and attack. This was the case with a sensational opening of the 18th century, the " Gambit of the peasants " (a variant in the Cunningham Gambit ), which also employed a positional chess thinkers such as Philidor. The basic position ( after the moves: 1.e2 e5 -e4 e7 - 2.f2 - f4 -f3 e5xf4 3.Sg1 Bf8 - e7 4.Lf1 - c4 Be7 5.g2 - g3 - h4 f4xg3 6.0-0 g3xh2 7 K g1 -h1 is produced ) is a test case for both sides daring gambit game.
In the 19th century, when especially in England and Germany ( Berlin School ) began the almost scientific penetration of many openings, the Gambit variants were critical to the discussion. First, there have been discovered so with the Evans Gambit, another significant Gambit Openings and tried. However, with the decisive breakthrough for positionally sound check, which is connected with the name of Wilhelm Steinitz, became the gambit game in a crisis. Many Gambit variants were now regarded as inadequate. The first tournaments as well as the professionalism of the leading chess players did the rest. An unnecessary risk was avoided more and more and the hedged pursuit of winning the game came as an exclusive destination in the foreground.
At the same time the Gambit Games maintained their appeal in the general public. At times, been experimenting with it to hold tournaments in which participants (eg the Vienna Gambit tournament 1903) set out to play a gambit. Ultimately, this remained without consequence, and given preference in the interwar period, as closed openings, the gambit game took under masters from further, even if, inter alia, Alekhine was risking an occasional Gambit. An exception was Rudolf Spielmann, "the last knight of King Gambit ".
In the Soviet grandmasters largely dominated chess in the period after 1945, the image should be slightly modified. Leading players such as Paul Keres, David Bronstein and Boris Spassky selected occasionally Gambit variants thus learned new upswing. The income from them practical " However, success was based more on the psychological surprise as to an improved treatment of Gambit ". Finally went to the very top one, no real change. The classic Gambit openings are considered by the grand masters in the majority to be incorrect. Bobby Fischer as judged strictly in a famous essay, the King's Gambit " is ruined ".
Gambit openings in modern chess
In the mass of chess players, the popularity of Gambit openings is relatively unbroken. As Garry Kasparov in the nineties exceptionally picked up the Evans Gambit, his greatest attention was therefore safe. Kasparov it was also in 1985 succeeded in the world championship match against Anatoly Karpov to introduce a new gambit in the Sicilian defense and thus to achieve an important victory. It is characteristic of this unusual event that later effective antidote to the Kasparov Gambit were found - again, the element of surprise was crucial.
In general, each opening innovation in a Gambit variant naturally big impact, but it threatens to change the existing opinion on the value of the sharp Abspiels concerned considerably. The few Gambit variants that apply from today's point of view to be correct, so must be treated with the highest level of mutual preparation, unless specifically avoids side to face the allure of Gambit game. This includes the dreaded by many white players Marshall Attack in the Ruy Lopez, a pawn sacrifice in the black for a long lasting initiative; the complicated variants were partially worked up to the transition to the final phase.
Some of the current Gambit variants aimed less at immediate tactical advantage or a kingside attack. Thus, for example, the Morra Gambit, which begins with the moves 1.e2 c5 2.d2 -e4 c7 - 3.c2 - c3 -d4 c5xd4, mostly aimed at a long-term positional pressure game instead of tactical complications. Another example of this more strategically oriented Gambit type is the Volga Gambit.
A phenomenon often found in modern chess Anti- Gambit strategy is that the defender waits an appropriate time to return the material and in turn to obtain compensation or at least compensation.
The followers of Gambit game finally claim with special theme tournaments and periodicals (some with high theoretical level as the aligned openings to rare magazine Kaissiber ) has its own niche in the world of chess. The phenomenon extends to actual " fan bases " as in the case of the Blackmar - Diemer Gambit. Growing, not least by the advance of computer chess, meanwhile the theoretical research also remote Gambit variants in a scale never seen before.
Some known Gambit Openings
- Alekhine - Chatard Attack
- Blackmar - Diemer Gambit
- Budapest Gambit Fajarowicz Gambit
- Albin counter-gambit
- Falk Beer Counter Gambit