does anyone know how to counter this gambit? • page 1/2 • General Chess Discussion • lichess.org

its apparently called the Rasa Studier Gambit
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.f3!?
its not ultra rare, played about 5% of the time at 2000+ blitz-classical, and it has a scary win rate of 52% on accepting the gambit. looking at the lichess database, the variations which score decent for black are e3?! and e5!? , e3 leads to a slight edge for white ( according to the browser engine, which might be wrong ) so I would prefer not to go for it, e5 I might consider as it still holds equality. although exf3 is the best move objectively, giving black a slight edge, but I have gotten absolutely destroyed in that variation, so I clearly need to learn some theory. going through the variations in the database myself with the help of the browser engine would be a pain and inaccurate probably. I tried searching refutations on YouTube but all the videos are about how to play the gambit, not how to refute it, and these videos tend not to show the refutation of the gambit because, well why would anyone watch the video after learning the gambit isnt good for white?

I found this video on some small channel, but the validity is questionable. don't get me wrong, the variations he shows are probably ok, but a few seconds of research shows he is 1500 on chess.premiumneededforlitterallyeverylittlething , so what works for him might not work for me.
I would like to know if there is something better than what he shows ( for white and black, there isnt too much in depth analysis) or is this the best I am getting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udw8LjRRcnY

its apparently called the Rasa Studier Gambit 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.f3!? its not ultra rare, played about 5% of the time at 2000+ blitz-classical, and it has a scary win rate of 52% on accepting the gambit. looking at the lichess database, the variations which score decent for black are e3?! and e5!? , e3 leads to a slight edge for white ( according to the browser engine, which might be wrong ) so I would prefer not to go for it, e5 I might consider as it still holds equality. although exf3 is the best move objectively, giving black a slight edge, but I have gotten absolutely destroyed in that variation, so I clearly need to learn some theory. going through the variations in the database myself with the help of the browser engine would be a pain and inaccurate probably. I tried searching refutations on YouTube but all the videos are about how to play the gambit, not how to refute it, and these videos tend not to show the refutation of the gambit because, well why would anyone watch the video after learning the gambit isnt good for white? I found this video on some small channel, but the validity is questionable. don't get me wrong, the variations he shows are probably ok, but a few seconds of research shows he is 1500 on chess.premiumneededforlitterallyeverylittlething , so what works for him might not work for me. I would like to know if there is something better than what he shows ( for white and black, there isnt too much in depth analysis) or is this the best I am getting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udw8LjRRcnY

AsDaGo

#2

I don't play the Caro-Kann, but a quick look at the database seems to indicate White has such a high percentage for two main reasons:

After 4...exf3 5. Nxf3 Nf6 6. Bc4, 6...Bf5 is the best move but played only 19% of the time.
After 6...Bf5 7. O-O e6 8. Ne5, the bishop on f5 is threatened by the rook, which many players miss. But after 8...Bg6, Black is better and has a much higher win percentage of 59%.

I don't play the Caro-Kann, but a quick look at the database seems to indicate White has such a high percentage for two main reasons: 1. After 4...exf3 5. Nxf3 Nf6 6. Bc4, 6...Bf5 is the best move but played only 19% of the time. 2. After 6...Bf5 7. O-O e6 8. Ne5, the bishop on f5 is threatened by the rook, which many players miss. But after 8...Bg6, Black is better and has a much higher win percentage of 59%.

lizani

#3

I mentioned this as an interesting way to play against the Caro-Kann in a previous post
https://lichess.org/forum/general-chess-discussion/how-to-beat-the-caro-kann-2?page=1
Basically, after 4... exf3 5. Nxf3 Nf6 you have transposed to a variation of the Blackmar-Diemer gambit normally reached by 1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. f3 exf3 5. Nxf3 c6. Black's idea is a solid setup with Bf5 and e6 and the good news is that this is considered one of Black's best responses against the Blackmar-Diemer. The bad news is that you may underestimate White's attacking chances if you've never looked at it before.
Another sound reply to 4. f3 is 4... Nf6 when 5. fxe4 e5 transposes to the Fantasy Variation (1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3).

I mentioned this as an interesting way to play against the Caro-Kann in a previous post https://lichess.org/forum/general-chess-discussion/how-to-beat-the-caro-kann-2?page=1 Basically, after 4... exf3 5. Nxf3 Nf6 you have transposed to a variation of the Blackmar-Diemer gambit normally reached by 1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. f3 exf3 5. Nxf3 c6. Black's idea is a solid setup with Bf5 and e6 and the good news is that this is considered one of Black's best responses against the Blackmar-Diemer. The bad news is that you may underestimate White's attacking chances if you've never looked at it before. Another sound reply to 4. f3 is 4... Nf6 when 5. fxe4 e5 transposes to the Fantasy Variation (1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3).

ColossusChess

#4

You shouldn't take that pawn. 4...Nf6 is the most solid option.

5.Nxe4 in reply does not look very scary for black.

5.fxe4 is well answered with 5...e5 when only black can be better.

And finally 5.Bc4 is best answered with 5...b5 6.Bb3 e6! 7.fxe4 b4 and black should be fine.

You shouldn't take that pawn. 4...Nf6 is the most solid option. 5.Nxe4 in reply does not look very scary for black. 5.fxe4 is well answered with 5...e5 when only black can be better. And finally 5.Bc4 is best answered with 5...b5 6.Bb3 e6! 7.fxe4 b4 and black should be fine.

RevolverNo1

#5

This is the first time I'm hearing this gambit, wow

openingsmatter621616

edited

#6

@AsDaGo said in #2:

I don't play the Caro-Kann, but a quick look at the database seems to indicate White has such a high percentage for two main reasons:

After 4...exf3 5. Nxf3 Nf6 6. Bc4, 6...Bf5 is the best move but played only 19% of the time.

After 6...Bf5 7. O-O e6 8. Ne5, the bishop on f5 is threatened by the rook, which many players miss. But after 8...Bg6, Black is better and has a much higher win percentage of 59%.
I didn't look past f3 in the lichess database and severely underestimated how many people play the suboptimal e6 or just Bg5?? so this is a pretty useful insight which I missed.

@ColossusChess said in #4:

You shouldn't take that pawn. 4...Nf6 is the most solid option.
5.fxe4 is well answered with 5...e5 when only black can be better.
That transposes into the open fantasy variation-esk position I would like to avoid because it is a completely different type of position from what I usually get in my games, although an optiont I might consider.

@AsDaGo said in #2: > I don't play the Caro-Kann, but a quick look at the database seems to indicate White has such a high percentage for two main reasons: > 1. After 4...exf3 5. Nxf3 Nf6 6. Bc4, 6...Bf5 is the best move but played only 19% of the time. > 2. After 6...Bf5 7. O-O e6 8. Ne5, the bishop on f5 is threatened by the rook, which many players miss. But after 8...Bg6, Black is better and has a much higher win percentage of 59%. I didn't look past f3 in the lichess database and severely underestimated how many people play the suboptimal e6 or just Bg5?? so this is a pretty useful insight which I missed. @ColossusChess said in #4: > You shouldn't take that pawn. 4...Nf6 is the most solid option. > 5.fxe4 is well answered with 5...e5 when only black can be better. That transposes into the open fantasy variation-esk position I would like to avoid because it is a completely different type of position from what I usually get in my games, although an optiont I might consider.

ColossusChess edited

#7

?? nobody plays Nc3 there (e5) and nobody plays Nf6? ...

openingsmatter621616

edited

#8

@ColossusChess said in #7:

?? nobody plays Nc3 there (e5) and nobody plays Nf6? ...
I was talking about the general type of position, I did not really put much thought into the moves in the example move order itself, sorry about that.

@ColossusChess said in #7: > ?? nobody plays Nc3 there (e5) and nobody plays Nf6? ... I was talking about the general type of position, I did not really put much thought into the moves in the example move order itself, sorry about that.

Diemer calling.

@openingsmatter621616 said in #8:

I was talking about the general type of position, I did not really put much thought into the moves in the example move order itself, sorry about that.

The general type of position is completely different to the fantasy since here you get a queen trade by force. After 6.Nf3 exd4 7.Qxd4 is the best move...

@openingsmatter621616 said in #8: > I was talking about the general type of position, I did not really put much thought into the moves in the example move order itself, sorry about that. The general type of position is completely different to the fantasy since here you get a queen trade by force. After 6.Nf3 exd4 7.Qxd4 is the best move...