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| Moves | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.c4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ECO | C77 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Named after | Richard Hopkins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent | Ruy Lopez | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Hopkins Gambit is a rarely played variant of the Ruy Lopez, Morphy Defense chess opening characterized by the moves:
Acquiring its name from Richard Hopkins, a fairly strong amateur player in the late nineteenth century, the main purpose of c4 is to solidify the position of the white bishop on a4 by deterring black from playing 5...b5. In addition, c4 asserts some control over the center, in particular the important d5 square. The rarity of the Hopkins Gambit in modern competitive play is due to the inherent weakness of the queen pawn, which as a backwards pawn becomes a liability should black take advantage.
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| This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves. |
The most commonly played continuation, black challenges white to make a direct claim to the center, and can lead to sharp play on both sides. After 6.Qe2 Nc5 the main continuations follow:
White may also play 6.Bxc6 immediately, but after 6...dxc6 7.Qe2 Nd6 8. Nxe4 Qe7 9.b3 f6 10.Nf3 Bg4 11.Bb2 0-0-0 Black has better piece activity.
By declining to capture the pawn, black tries to create a positional advantage, taking control of the d4 square to weaken white’s pawn structure. Moves other than Bc5 allow white to play 6.d4, allowing white to possess a dominant center position. The main variation follows:
Black offers white a pawn in exchange for a direct kingside attack. If white does not capture the g5 pawn, black usually follows with 6…g4. The main variation follows: