Now a club players favourite opening. The Staunton Gambit, in this course I at first advocated 4... c6, but now I am switching to the main line with 4... Nc6.1d4f51...e6 of course avoids all this nonsense, but you must be prepared for 2.e42e4...The Staunton Gambit. A very popular idea at club level and also very dangerous to the unprepared player. On the plus side, Black has a lot of fun in the following variations as well, often turning the tables and starting deadly attacks against White's King. I would recommend you take a look at all the following lines, some things do need to be remembered but in general the set up in the main line that you're going for is pawns on d7,e6 and f5 with a dark-squared Bishop on g7.2...fxe43Nc3...3.f3 allows d53...Nf63...d5 ?? has been seen far too often 4.Qh5+ ± White wins the pawn back with a great position.4Bg5...This is by far the most common move, but there are some interesting alternatives. 4.f3 !? is an interesting gambit way of playing. Especially if continued with fxe4 Bc4 ! with a quick Nge2 and O-O ! As a rule I would always refuse capturing on f3 and accelerating White's development. 4...d5 4...exf3 ?! 5.Nxf3 is just what White is looking for. Lots of open lines and the attack. 5.fxe4 ! this simple move looks to be White's most interesting possibility, as after 5.Be3 A simple developing move which has only been seen twice. e6 ! aiming to counterattack with ...Bb4. 5...Bf5 ? allows 6.g4 ! Bg6 7.g5 Nh5 7...Nfd7 +=2 8.fxe4 += 8.fxe4 dxe4 9.Be2 +- 6.fxe4 Bb4 ! a new position and promising one for Black. 7.e5 Ne4 =+ Black is ready to castle and play ideas with ...Qh4+. 5.Bg5 Bf5 !? Black wants to play ...e6 but have his light square Bishop outside of the pawn structure. 6.fxe4 6.Bxf6 ?! exf6 7.fxe4 dxe4 8.Bc4 Nc6 ∓ 0-1 (34) Tran,Q (2091) -Dao Thien Hai (2508) Ho Chi Minh City VIE 2014 6...dxe4 7.Nge2 7.Bc4 Nc6 8.Nge2 e6 9.O-O Na5 ! 0-1 (24) Liardet,F (2330) -Malaniuk,V (2610) Geneve 1997 10.Bd5 Qd7 11.Rxf5 exf5 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Nf4 h5 14.Be6 Qd6 15.g3 Rd8 16.Ncd5 c6 17.Qxh5+ Rxh5 18.Nxf6+ Ke7 19.Ng8+ 1/2-1/2 (19) Predojevic,B (2641) -Sedlak,N (2568) Nova Gorica 2008 7...e6 8.Ng3 Be7 White still needs to prove his compensation. 5...dxe4 6.Bc4 !? is now very exciting, with the idea 6.Bg5 Bf5 is transposing to 5 Bg5 ideas. 7.Nge2 7.Bc4 7...e6 8.Ng3 Be7 = 6...Nc6 ! 7.Nge2 e5 ! 8.O-O ! only played twice in 1998, the idea though is clear; White develops as quickly as possible without concerning himself about material. 8...Nxd4 8...Na5 ! is a very strange move, but seems interesting. 9.Bb5+ 9.dxe5 Bc5+ 10.Kh1 Qxd1 11.Rxd1 Ng4 ∓ 12.Nxe4 ? Nxc4 -+ 9...c6 10.Bg5 ! no time to move attacked pieces cxb5 11.dxe5 Qb6+ ! 11...Qxd1 12.Raxd1 Bc5+ 13.Kh1 += 12.Kh1 Ng4 13.Nxe4 Nc4 my engine gives this position as better for Black; but it would be good to see some practical tests ! 8...exd4 9.Nxe4 ! Nxe4 10.Bf7+ Ke7 11.Ng3 ! and this whole position looks very scary for Black. I don't like it ! Nf6 12.Bc4 Qd6 13.Bg5 Kd8 14.Ne4 Qe5 15.Rxf6 Be7 16.Rxc6 bxc6 17.Bxe7+ Kxe7 18.Qd2 Bf5 19.Qg5+ Kd7 20.Bd3 h6 21.Nc5+ Qxc5 22.Bxf5+ Kd6 23.Qg6+ Kd5 24.Qe6# 1-0 (24) Kieffer,J (2220) -Blosze,E Nuremberg 1988 9.Nxd4 !? 9.Bg5 Bg4 looks fine for Black. 9...Qxd4+ 10.Qxd4 exd4 11.Nb5 Kd8 12.Nxd4 = White has pretty decent compensation for the pawn, but Black is not worse. Black can continue with 12...c6 ...Bc5 and eventually ...Kc7 with an equal yet fun game. A very interesting line which deserves more practical tests.4...Nc6After going through every possibilty that Black has in this position I can confidently state that this is not only the best move available for Black but also the most fun ! It is the main line. I have suggested other moves in the past, but the positions that can be reached after 4... Nc6 are just so much fun ! Let me convince you with some variations. 4...c6 Was my orginal suggestion for this course, and a move that I really wanted to make work ! This idea has also been suggested on other websites and in other books. For example, Glenn Flear gives it a '!' on the cutting edge theoretical opening site 'Chess Publishing'. It was then a rather nasty, yet eductional shock, when a Chessable reader pointed out that Black could be in trouble in the following line. 5.f3 d5 6.fxe4 dxe4 7.Bc4 Nbd7 8.Nge2 Qa5 9.Qd2 b5 (given '!' in various places) 10.Bb3 b4 11.Na4 ! This little move 11. Na4 with the idea of meeting 11...Ba6 with 12.a3 ! is a new idea, and credit must be given to user 'Gavgav77' for finding this novelty. After extensive research I was unable to find a satisfactory response to this idea. I spent a lot of time looking at 12...e5 !? yet after 13.O-O exd4 14.Nxd4 ! Bxf1 15.Rxf1 , I tried to make something work for Black. The problem was, just look at Black's weak King ! I always suggest variations that I would play, and in this case I would not play this line as Black so I can not suggest it. So, I did some more research (here it is !) and started to like the look of 4... Nc6, the main line. Here are my changes and suggested ways that Black now plays against the Staunton Gambit. I hope you agree with me that the following varations are a lot of fun and offer exciting ways for Black to play.5d5...5.f3 is a standard gambit move and the main problem against 4... c6. In this case though it falls short as Blacks Knight on c6 stands well. d5 I spent a lot of time trying to make 5...e5 (work, but didn't like) 6.d5 Nd4 7.f4 !?N 6.fxe4 Nxe4 This looks best. Swapping pieces often helps the defender. 7.Nxe4 dxe4 and because of the pressure against d4 Black is doing fine. For example, 8.d5 Ne5 9.Qd4 Nf7 This manoeuver again. 10.Be3 e5 ! And Black's pieces come to life with easy equality.5...Ne5The Knight will remain here until it is forced to move, then it will retreat to f7.6Qe2...This move can now be considered the main line and has become more popular at top level. Historically the main line used to be 6. Qd4, which we will also look at, but it does appear to be less scary for Black. 6.Bxf6 This releases the tension too quickly and Black is in a very good position after exf6 7.Nxe4 f5 ! Do remember this move ! It is often the way for Black to play in this sharp Staunton Gambit. 8.Nc3 Bc5 Black is better. With castling ...d6 and ...Qf6 coming up. The position is also very easy for Black to play, which is always a good thing ! 6.Qd4 This is the old main line, but it has long been known that Black is comfortable after Nf7 The Knight retreats and forces White to make a decision about the Bishop on g5. 7.Bxf6 Again the main line. 7.Nh3 is better than its reputation but still not scary. The simplest way to equality is now e5 8.dxe6 dxe6 9.Qxd8+ Nxd8 with ...Bd7 and ...Bc6 and an equal game. 7.h4 is logical. The Bishop on g5 is a strong piece and White shouldn't give it up without a fight. e5 meeting a wing attack with a central attack. 7... c6 was also possible but this is the simplest and sometimes simple is good ! 8.dxe6 dxe6 9.Qxd8+ Nxd8 with equality. Black can play ...Bd7 ...Bc6 and ...Nf7 with a nice game. 7.Bd2 has been tried but it is one of White's worse options due to c6 ! Another key idea in the Staunton ! This move often gives Black great play. That is certainly the case here. 8.dxc6 bxc6 9.Nxe4 e5 Black already had a big advantage in Ushenina vs Wenjun, 2013, 0-1. The Black centre is mobile and ready to roll ! 7...exf6 8.Nxe4 Be7 The safest even though ...f5 is also good. In these positions I really do not think that Black has anything to fear. The position is very solid and the dark-squared Bishop has great potential. In the long run it does seem that Black has all the positional trumps, that is why 6 Qe2 strikes me as a more scary try from White. 9.O-O-O O-O Black is ready to play ...f5, ...d6 and ...Bf6 with a great game. That is why White played 10.Ng3 in Kravtsov vs Vyzmanavin, 1997, 0-1. d6 Renewing the 'threat' of ...f5 and after 11.f4 Black even played c5 time to open up lines towards White's King. 12.Qc3 Nh6 and with ...f5 ...Nf6 and ...b5 to follow Black was one happy guy !6...c6The best reply and one way to take advantage of the fact that White has not played Qd4. Now that the Knight on e5 is not attacked Black has time to remove White's annoying pawn on d5.7O-O-Ocxd58f4...The latest test for Black. 8.Bxf6 has been played by Radjabov but it offers White nothing. Radjabov - Danielsen, 2000, continued gxf6 9.Qh5+ against other options Black will play ...e6. Nf7 10.Qxd5 e6 Black has a very strong centre, yet the King can be a target. This is typical for this variation ! 11.Qxe4 And now the simplest would have been f5 With mutual chances. Black will play ...Bg7 and castle Kingside. 8.Nxd5 This logical move is under rated. It may even be one of White's best tries ! I now suggest making some exchanges with Nxd5 8... e6 is much more common but I am not a fan after White's most active move 9. f4 !? 9.Rxd5 Nf7 It makes sense to attack the Bishop on g5. 10.Qxe4 Nxg5 11.Rxg5 and now I feel that g6 is best, with ideas of attacking on the long diagonal and with ...Bh6. This is very double-edged stuff and things remain sharp after 12.Nf3 !? sacrificing for the attack. Bh6 13.Kb1 Bxg5 14.Nxg5 e6 with a wild game. I would like to see more test here ! This is unchartered water, which the computer feels is equal. Black should aim for ...Qe7, ...Re8 and eventually the unravelling of his Queenside with ...Rb8, ...b6 and ...Bb7.8...Nf79Bxf6gxf610Rxd5...The most promosing idea for White, as the Rook has more squares to move to. 10.Nxd5 e6 11.Qxe4 11.Nc3 !? Qc7 !? Another possibilty was 11...f5 but this allows 12.g4 ! With 11... Qc7 !? Black returns the pawn and gains active counterplay with his dark-squared Bishop. I prefer this way of playing, rather than trying to hang on to an extra pawn. 12.Qxe4 This must be critical. White guards his pawn on f4 and centralises his Queen. f5 13.Qf3 This seems best. White can also try moving the Knight on c3 in, but Qf3 keeps all options open. 13.Nd5 is the most aggressive try that White has, but it is also the least worrying for Black. Qa5 ! The most active move. 14.Qe2 14.Nf6+ This may look worrying but amounts to nothing after Ke7 15.Qd4 15.Nd5+ allows 15...Qxd5 ! and Black gains the advantage. Bg7 when White has nothing better than to exchange Queens, which will always help Black due to his better structure and two Bishops. 16.Nd5+ Kf8 17.Qb4+ Qxb4 18.Nxb4 a5 19.Nd3 b6 Black is slightly better with the two Bishops in an open position and a very strong pawn centre. I would now finish my development as Black with ...Bb7, then centralise with ...Ke7, play on the c-file with ...Rac8, ...Rc7 and ...Rc8 and eventually push forwards with my central pawns. The future holds a lot of fun possibilities for Black. 13.Nb5 is another try and this time Black should play Qc5 ! this seems like a nice central square for the Queen. It is also a good idea to stop White from playing 14. Qc4 which supports Nc7+. For example, bad would be the natural 13...Qa5 ? 14.Qc4 and White would be better. 14.Qd3 Bg7 15.Nf3 O-O 16.Rg1 a6 17.Nbd4 Nh6 ! stopping g4 for now and therefore holding up White's attack on the Kingside. This position looks very exciting for both players. Black will continue with ...b5, ...Bb7 and given a chance ...Be4. The dark-squared Bishop on g7 will always be a pain for White's King. I would evaluate things as being dynamically equal, just what we want when playing 1... f5 ! 13...Bg7 Such a beautiful Bishop ! 14.Nge2 O-O 14...h5 stopping 15. g4 looks interesting to the human eye, but the computer program frowns at such an idea. Things are very critical now, as White can play 15.g4 ! fxg4 15...Qc6 doesn't work due to 16.Qg3 ! Qxh1 17.Bg2 and White's Queen will prove to be stronger than the two Rooks. 16.Qxg4 d5 ! An important move as Black's Queen needs to defend along the 7th rank. 17.Nb5 Qe7 18.Rg1 Qf6 we reach a very exciting and sharp position. Both sides have chances. All this is new stuff and hasn't been played before, my computer gives things as equal yet I would like to see some more investigations into this position. Black should be aiming to play ...Kh8 and then ...e5, opening things for the two Bishops. 11...f5 Yet again we see Black aiming for this structure. The pawn formation on d7, e6 and f5 is hard to break down. 12.Qe3 Bg7 12...Bh6 has been played before, but this Bishop is much more logically placed on g7. 13.Nf3 O-O 14.Nc3 With mutual chances. The safest way for Black to continue now is 14... Qb6, but 14... Qf6 is more exciting. Qf6 The most fun way to proceed ! Black wants to gain some of the centre with ...d5 and even ...d4 later. 14...Qb6 was another option, but life becomes a little more dull without Queens on the board. 15.Rg1 Logically aiming to attack with g4. d5 15...b5 was also very tempting, but this is the safest way to go. The position is yet again very exciting and offers chances to both sides. Black can attack with ...b5 or in a more restrained manner with ...Bd7 and ...Rac8.10...b6This looks best. Other options included 10...e6 and the as yet untried 10...b5 !? For this course I pick something in the middle of solid and crazy ! 10... b6. I am not sure what that is in the middle of, mind you...11Nxe4...11.g4 is an interesting idea as well. But who can turn down the chance to checkmate in one move with a Knight ?!11...e6Care needed !!! Please do not fall for 11...Bb7 12.Nf6# checkmate. That would be most embarrasing ! This position has not had many outings so is room for improvement for both players. The one game I could find in this variation now continued12Qe3...I would have thought 12.Nf3 to be more natural. When a good response to gain the f8 square for the King would be 12...Bh6.12...Bb7This is as yet untried and looks best. Play could continue:13Rh5Qe7Time to bail out to the Queenside !14Nf3O-O-OWith equal chances. White has more space but Black is very solid. I would be looking at playing ...f5 and ...Bg7 with the build up of an attack against White's Queenside.