Blumenfeld Gambit

Blumenfeld Gambit
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8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
d7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
e6 black pawn
f6 black knight
b5 black pawn
c5 black pawn
d5 white pawn
c4 white pawn
f3 white knight
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
e2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
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Moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nf3 b5
ECO E10
Named after Benjamin Blumenfeld
Parent Benoni Defense

The Blumenfeld Gambit is a chess opening characterised by the moves 3...e6 4.Nf3 b5 in the Benoni Defense arising after:

1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 c5
3. d5 e6
4. Nf3 b5

or alternatively:

1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. Nf3 c5
4. d5 b5

In fact, as many as 30 different move orders are possible.[1] The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO) sorts the Blumenfeld Gambit under code E10 (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3).


General considerations

Black sacrifices a wing pawn to establish an imposing centre with pawns on c5, d5 and e6. The natural development of the bishops to b7 and d6, combined with the open f-file for a rook, tend to facilitate Black's play on the kingside. White, on the other hand, will typically look to counter in the centre by playing e4 at some point, while his additional queenside pawn also offers him some initiative on that side of the board.

Origin

The opening is named after the Russian master Benjamin Blumenfeld, and was later played by World Chess Champion Alexander Alekhine.

The opening position can also be reached via the Benko Gambit (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.Nf3 e6). Possible continuations are 5.dxe6 (Kan-Goldenov, 1946), 5.Bg5 (Vaganian–K. Grigorian, 1971), 5.e4, or 5.a4 (Rubinstein–Spielmann, 1922),[2] with 5.Bg5 being most frequently seen when this gambit is employed.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Opening Report: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5 (1914 games)
  2. ↑ Kasparov, Gary; Raymond Keene (1982). Batsford Chess Openings. B. T. Batsford, London. ISBN 0-7134-2114-2.

Further reading

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