[Event "Halloween Gambit: Introduction"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/pneMGFCd/uA48MC6X"] [Result "*"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C47"] [Opening "Four Knights Game: Halloween Gambit"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/SWJediknight"] [UTCDate "2021.10.31"] [UTCTime "13:26:13"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/pneMGFCd/uA48MC6X"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 { So far, we have a normal Four Knights variation, but now White uncorks a surprising sacrifice... } 4. Nxe5?! { This is the Halloween Gambit. It's unsound, but particularly at fast time controls it can be very dangerous. White sacrifices a knight to bring Black's knight on c6 onto an exposed post on e5, whereupon White will hassle the black knights by pushing the centre pawns forward. White ideally wants to get a pawn established on d6. } 4... Nxe5 { Black has no good way to decline the gambit here. } (4... Bc5 { is tricky, envisaging transposition into the Stafford Gambit with } 5. Nxc6 (5. Nf3 { is my recommendation for White here. Yes, White loses a move, but White keeps an extra pawn and retains a knight on f3, which performs important defensive functions and restricts Black's hacking chances. } 5... Ng4 { is well met by } 6. d4) 5... dxc6 { Now White can get a clear advantage with best play, but in practice, particularly at fast controls, Black's score has been reasonable, as Black has plenty of traps and hacking chances on the kingside, and White has to play accurately to side-step them. }) 5. d4 { White advances in the centre and attacks the knight on e5. } (5. f4?! { is no good because now White can't hope to get a pawn established on d6. } 5... Nc6 6. e5 Ng8 7. d4 d5! { is the most secure response, where Black still retains an extra piece for a pawn and can play on the light squares around White's pawn centre. }) 5... Ng6 (5... Nc6 { is not as theoretically strong, but it's playable. } 6. d5 (6. e5?! Ng8 { is not as good because now if White plays d4-d5, this leaves the e5-pawn undefended and Black can take with ...Nxe5. See Chapter 2. }) 6... Nb8?! { is questionable as now White can get a pawn established on d6 and leave Black's position woefully undeveloped - see Chapter 3. } (6... Ne5 { is superior to ...Nb8, because at least the knight doesn't get kicked back to its starting square, but White can still get a pawn established on d6 or get the piece back in this line, viz. } 7. f4 Ng6 8. e5 Ng8 (8... Bc5 9. exf6 O-O { is a good way to return the piece here. }) 9. d6 { - see Chapter 4. }) (6... Bb4 { is a reaosnable way to return the piece, see Chapter 5. })) (5... Bd6 { For this and other ways of giving back the piece here, see Chapter 6. I don't think this is a particularly good time to give it back. }) 6. e5 (6. f4?! { aims for a slower build-up in the centre, but as it isn't forcing, it gives Black an important extra move to organise the defence. } 6... d5 { is a good response. }) 6... Ng8 { The knight has no other safe retreat square. } (6... Bb4 { is again possible, but it isn't one of Black's better ways to return the piece, as White has some chances of an edge with } 7. exf6 Qxf6 8. Qe2+ { - see Chapter 7. }) 7. Bc4 { White develops, hits Black's weak point on f7 and prevents Black from playing ...d5 without giving back a pawn. This can be considered the main line of the Halloween Gambit. White is still a piece for a pawn down, but has a strong centre and has an extra piece out. } (7. f4 { is again inadvisable because of } 7... d5!) (7. Qf3 { is an alternative, but it probably isn't as strong - see Chapter 8. }) 7... d5 { Even though this gives back a pawn, it's probably the best practical try and may even be objectively best, easing some of the pressure, while still retaining an extra piece for two pawns. See Chapter 9, which is probably the most important chapter from a theoretical point of view. } (7... Bb4 { is an important alternative - see Chapter 10. }) (7... c6 { For this and other moves (7...d6 is also quite often played, but it isn't as good) see Chapter 11. }) *