The Muzio Gambit

" There is simply not that much opening theory and its really hard to develop opening theory because Black usually survive long enough to enter any. As Black, my advise would be memorise the moves and learn how to avoid the tricks (emphasis added)."
- Stjepan Tomic, FIDE Rating 2001

The Muzio Gambit is reached after the following moves:
1. e4, e5
2. f4, exf4
3. Nf3, g5
4. Bc4, g4
5. 0-0

Black usually plays 5...g4xf3 which is followed by 5. Qxf3. And this is the Muzio Gambit Accepted, the most logical continuation after 4...g4. If Black postpones taking the knight with 5...d5?!, White obtains a strong attack beginning either 6. exd5 or 6. Bxd5.

This is one of the most deeply analysed openings in chess, and perhaps the best position to study your tactical ability. An engine will win this position every time but humans, especially sub-Master humans, lose more often than they don't. Despite being a pawn and a knight down, Stockfish evaluates this position as -(0.1). White has a castled King, two developed pieces, a pawn on e4 and the initiative. An opening success.

Rules for Playing the Muzio:

I. Don't trade pieces (especially the queen and rooks)

II. Every move should be an attacking one, i.e it should either
a) gain space
b) develop a piece
c) put pressure on White's position

III. No free moves to be given i.e each of Black's moves should be a response to yours. Do not allow free development.

6. Qxf3, Qf6!

Black MUST play Qf6 here. The f4 pawn is about to fall, White has 3 pieces trained on f7, there is no way Black is surviving this without trading queens. If Black manages to trade queens, White's attack is significantly slowed down, and White is simply down material. Guess White's next move?

7. e5! (Stockfish calls this a mistake a recommends 7. d3)

Black's should take the free pawn, there are no immediate tactics. The logic behind this move is to get the Queen away from f7, and also play with a tempo on the queen to avoid Black developing more pieces or securing the Black King.

7... Qxe5 and now White's main choices are 8. Bxf7+ and 8.d3.

Double Muzio 8. Bxf7+

Stockfish says -(4.5) but of the 9 Master Games in the Lichess database that have reached this position, White won 5 of them.

Sample Continuation: 8. Bxf7+ Kxf7 9. d4

Here's the position, what would you play?

As you can see, the most played move is 9...Qxd4+, which loses instantly. All 5 games in this line were won by White. White plays 10. Be3 with a tempo on the queen, winning a pawn.

A more accurate response is 9...Qf5. Black secures the queen (plans to trade queens in the next few moves), and develop Kingside pieces. White will continue to attack the Black Queen but this is difficult to do while also avoiding a queen trade.

Main line: 8.d3

Sample Continuation: 8. d3 Bh6 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. Bd2 Nbc6 11. Rae1 Qf5!

11...Qc5+ was the old Mainline, but Qf5 is the most accurate defence. Some scholars also call it the refutation of the Muzio. But yes, the best way for Black to defend is to make the queen work overtime and trade down as much, and as fast, as possible.

Illustrative Games

For perspective on just how venomous this opening can be, here are a few games:

1. Nakamura, Hikaru (2741) - Andreikin, Dmitry (2683)

First Dmitry makes a mistake by playing 6...bh6, allowing White to equalise with 7. d4. But later on he plays 9...Kd5 to avoid the c7 knight fork (9...nxd4 counter attacking the Queen may have been more effective), but this exposes him to a worse attack along the kingside. Can you find the best continuation for White?

White to play and win material

It was a 5min Blitz Game so Hikaru can be forgiven for missing the best move, but Stockfish reveals a deadly sequence.

10. g3!, Nxd4 11.Qf2, fxg3 12. hxg3, Qg4 13. Bxh6, d6 14. Rae1, Ne6 15. Bd2, Ng5 16. Bxg5+, Qxg5 17. e5, Nh6

The continuation is forcing, and wins White a bishop. The resultant position is evaluated as +(4.8). White has poor development, an exposed King, and badly positioned pieces. Even on material, Black is just a pawn up.

2. Patzer (1633) - ganpatkeer1 (2005)

ganpatkeer1 blunders 6...f6. White to mate in 5 moves.

3. Patzer (1500) v. GM Ilya Nyzhnyk (2674)

The seasoned GM humors me by playing the King's Gambit. He doesn't blunder but White has wild attacking chances. Patzer blunders with 15...Nxf6. Can you find the winning continuation for White?

Conclusion

As I'd said above in my clickbait title, the Muzio Gambit is the most aggressive variation of one of the most aggressive openings in chess, so its obviously a lot of fun to play for White. More often than not Black will avoid going into this line by not playing 4...g4, but if they do, its a real rodeo. This is a formidable surprise weapon, and it is notoriously easy for Black to go wrong.

In my limited experience, the Muzio always always catches your opponent off guard. Handle with care.

Sources

1. Stjepan’s Lecture on the Muzio Gambit https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLssNbVBYrGcCauRoeKm0mUiNP9MzMzAVn

2. IM Mio discussing the Muzio Gambit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Yzr03R72b0