Italian Game, Rousseau Gambit

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Rousseau Gambit
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Moves1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 f5
ECO C50
Origin19th century
Named after Eugène Rousseau
Parent Italian Game
Synonym(s)Ponziani Countergambit

The Rousseau Gambit (or Ponziani Countergambit after Domenico Lorenzo Ponziani) is a chess opening that begins with the moves:

Contents

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 f5

The gambit is named after French chess master Eugène Rousseau. White can decline the gambit by supporting the e-pawn with 4.d3. The resulting position is similar to a King's Gambit Declined with colours reversed, and White's king bishop aiming at Black's weakened kingside . Black will have trouble castling kingside, and Ng5 is a likely threat. White's position is better, but still requires careful play.

Key themes for White are to attack Black's kingside and to avoid attempts by Black to simplify the position. Exchanges involving White's light-square bishop are particularly suspect.

White responses

Gambit Declined: 4.d3

White can decline the gambit and wait to capture the f-pawn. 4...Bc5 transposes to the Lucchini Gambit.

Gambit Accepted: 4.exf5

White still has a good game after the inferior 4.exf5, but the position is less clear. Black usually plays 4...e4, which White may meet by 5.Nd4! Nf6 (5...Nxd4? leads to trouble after 6.Qh5+) 6.Nxc6.

4.d4!

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8
Chessboard480.svg
Chess rdt45.svg
Chess bdt45.svg
Chess qdt45.svg
Chess kdt45.svg
Chess bdt45.svg
Chess ndt45.svg
Chess rdt45.svg
Chess pdt45.svg
Chess pdt45.svg
Chess pdt45.svg
Chess pdt45.svg
Chess pdt45.svg
Chess pdt45.svg
Chess ndt45.svg
Chess pdt45.svg
Chess pdt45.svg
Chess blt45.svg
Chess plt45.svg
Chess plt45.svg
Chess nlt45.svg
Chess plt45.svg
Chess plt45.svg
Chess plt45.svg
Chess plt45.svg
Chess plt45.svg
Chess plt45.svg
Chess rlt45.svg
Chess nlt45.svg
Chess blt45.svg
Chess qlt45.svg
Chess klt45.svg
Chess rlt45.svg
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After 4.d4!

White gets a clear advantage with 4.d4!:

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 T. D. Harding; G. S. Botterill (1977), The Italian Game, B. T. Batsford Limited, p. 128, ISBN   0-7134-3261-6
  2. Kasparov, Gary; Keene, Raymond (1982), Batsford Chess Openings, American Chess Promotions, p. 308, ISBN   0-7134-2112-6