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Gambits for U2000 players, part 2

#2

Why are masters games shown played in other line (Rb1) than the one you are talking about (a4)?
While there are no masters games in lichess database, there is free https://database.chessbase.com and you can look for games played by good players in lichess database.

Rb1 is a very non-challenging move, black can go Nf6>g6>Bg7>O-O with Nc6 or a6 to follow up. Engine claims, White's best try is to play g3, not what player gambiting wants

so a4 is actually pretty interesting, as if the bishop attacks the queen, it cant retreat to it's safest square - d6. I might have to look into that line later

Why are masters games shown played in other line (Rb1) than the one you are talking about (a4)? While there are no masters games in lichess database, there is free https://database.chessbase.com and you can look for games played by good players in lichess database. Rb1 is a very non-challenging move, black can go Nf6>g6>Bg7>O-O with Nc6 or a6 to follow up. Engine claims, White's best try is to play g3, not what player gambiting wants so a4 is actually pretty interesting, as if the bishop attacks the queen, it cant retreat to it's safest square - d6. I might have to look into that line later
#3

Nice article! I am of the opinion that any gambit that isn't immediately losing is playable U2000. At that level, and almost all levels, tactics and endgames seem to be most important while opening knowledge remains less important. For example, Magnus wins titled Tuesdays playing 1.Na3 against very decent opposition. His understanding of the positions and what he wants from them -- and his ability to convert that understanding on the chessboard -- is what helps him win games, not mountains of 1. Na3 and transpositional theory. If a GM played 1.f3 against me I am sure that I would lose every time.

For U2000, some gambits that throw the kitchen sink at the opponent, like the Danish Gambit, could be a lot of fun and effective-- but I think improvers should focus on more reputable openings that can lead to both tactical skirmishes or positional games. This took me a LONG time to figure out since I enjoy playing aggressively with offbeat openings, so I figured I would give my two cents on the matter.

Nice article! I am of the opinion that any gambit that isn't immediately losing is playable U2000. At that level, and almost all levels, tactics and endgames seem to be most important while opening knowledge remains less important. For example, Magnus wins titled Tuesdays playing 1.Na3 against very decent opposition. His understanding of the positions and what he wants from them -- and his ability to convert that understanding on the chessboard -- is what helps him win games, not mountains of 1. Na3 and transpositional theory. If a GM played 1.f3 against me I am sure that I would lose every time. For U2000, some gambits that throw the kitchen sink at the opponent, like the Danish Gambit, could be a lot of fun and effective-- but I think improvers should focus on more reputable openings that can lead to both tactical skirmishes or positional games. This took me a LONG time to figure out since I enjoy playing aggressively with offbeat openings, so I figured I would give my two cents on the matter.
#4

@CkickyCheck
This is a gambit for U2000 players, so they are not expected to play engines best moves

@CkickyCheck This is a gambit for U2000 players, so they are not expected to play engines best moves