[Event "The Göring and Danish Gambits: Introduction to the Göring, Danish, Scotch and Urusov"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/IGjwlnV5/d75PrE8v"] [Result "*"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C44"] [Opening "Scotch Game: Göring Gambit"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/SWJediknight"] [UTCDate "2022.05.21"] [UTCTime "20:11:32"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/IGjwlnV5/d75PrE8v"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 { This family of gambits can only arise after 1.e4 e5, though of course White can try other similar gambits against some of Black's other responses to 1.e4. } 2. Nf3 (2. d4 { is an alternative move order which can be used to get to any of these four gambits. } 2... exd4 { This is not forced, but it is Black's most reliable counter and is most often played (by a large margin). } 3. Nf3 { is then the right way to try to get a Göring Gambit, and it is also a good way of trying to reach a Scotch Gambit or even a Urusov Gambit. } (3. c3 { is the Danish Gambit, which is a Göring Gambit but without the moves Nf3 and ...Nc6. My view is that the difference is mostly in Black's favour, but this move order does allow White a few independent options too, particularly the line } 3... d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. cxd4 Nc6 6. Be3 (6. Nf3 { transposes to the Göring Gambit Declined })) (3. Bc4 { is also a reasonable move order if White wants to get into a Scotch Gambit. } 3... Nc6 (3... Nf6 4. Nf3 { leads to the Urusov Gambit, which can transpose back into Scotch Gambit/Two Knights Defence lines if Black plays ...Nc6 here, but play becomes independent if Black grabs the pawn with } 4... Nxe4 5. Qxd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 { with Bg5 to follow. }) 4. Nf3 { is the transposition into the Scotch Gambit. }) 3... Nc6 (3... Bb4+ { also tends to lead to a Göring Gambit after } 4. c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 { , whereupon } 5... Nc6 { transposes directly to Chapter 3. }) (3... Nf6 4. Bc4 { transposes to the Urusov Gambit } (4. e5 { is a good alternative. })) 4. c3 { is the transposition to the Göring. } (4. Bc4 { is the Scotch Gambit. })) 2... Nc6 3. d4 { This is the Scotch Game, where White undermines Black's strong point on e5 and tries to blast open the centre. } 3... exd4 { This is not forced, but it is Black's best reply and is most often played (and again by a large margin). Now White can recapture on d4 with the knight, which is perfectly good, but in the Göring Gambit White instead sacrifices a pawn. } 4. c3 { The idea is that if Black takes on c3, White will gain an accelerated lead in development, which can be used to help attack the black king straight out of the opening. White is also threatening to establish a two-pawn centre with cxd4. } (4. Bc4 { is the Scotch Gambit, which tends most of the time to transpose into the Two Knights Defence or Giuoco Piano. I have opted to cover both of these lines here, though. } 4... Bc5 (4... Nf6 { transposes to the Two Knights Defence line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4. }) 5. c3 Nf6 { is one of the main lines of the Giuoco Piano: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4. } (5... dxc3 { transposes to the Göring Gambit, where } 6. Bxf7+ { intending } 6... Kxf7 7. Qd5+ { is quite a strong reply. })) 4... dxc3 (4... d5 { is the most reliable and popular way of declining the gambit, undermining White's e4-pawn and taking advantage of the fact that 4.c3 didn't develop a piece. } 5. exd5 (5. Bd3 { defending the pawn is rarely seen, but is also playable. }) 5... Qxd5 6. cxd4 { is the standard continuation, where White has an isolated pawn on d4, but can compensate for this by developing the pieces quickly and aiming to gain some time on the black queen. I can't deny that this line fully equalises for Black, though. }) (4... Nf6 { is also playable, again counterattacking against White's undefended pawn on e4. White does best to push and attack the knight, } 5. e5 { , whereupon Black has a choice: } 5... Nd5 { is the solid option, where Black gets a reasonable game but White has some hope of retaining a slight edge. } (5... Ne4 { is more double-edged, and although White is more likely to get a significant advantage against this with best play, play often becomes complicated. })) (4... Nge7 { is a subtler idea, aiming to play ...d5 and then recapture on d5 with the knight on e7, avoiding ending up with the black queen in the middle of the board. The main drawback is that White can play } 5. Bc4 { with the idea of speedy castling and bringing a rook to e1, viz. } 5... d5 6. exd5 Nxd5 7. O-O { and White gets some initiative. }) (4... d3 { is quite often seen, but I can't recommend it for Black, as White typically gets a space advantage and more room for the white pieces, without having to sacrifice anything. White should just take: } 5. Bxd3) (4... d6?! { is quite a popular reply in online games, but it misses one of the points of White's opening: with } 5. cxd4 { White gets a strong centre with the pawns on d4 and e4 controlling important central squares. }) 5. Nxc3 { Now White has an extra developing move and plenty of open lines in return for the pawn. } (5. Bc4 { is a more daring alternative, sacrificing a second pawn on b2. In my opinion it is less likely to be fully sound than 5.Nxc3, but it is also more dangerous. The idea is that after } 5... cxb2 6. Bxb2 { in return for the two sacrificed pawns White has a long lead in development and the two bishops on b2 and c4 point at Black's f7 and g7-pawns, which makes it more difficult for Black to develop the kingside pieces. }) *