King's Gambit Accepted · C38

Philidor Gambit, Schultz Variation

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 h6 4. Bc4 d6 5. d4 g5 6. h4 Bg7 7. Qd3

An early pawn trade leaves the e-file as Black's avenue and the f-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. Black keeps the extra pawn; White plays for time, open lines, and initiative - the classic gambit trade. Black's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal. f4 offers a pawn to drag Black's e-pawn off the centre and open the f-file - development and attack against material, the oldest bargain in chess.

The first 4 moves, explained

• 1. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 1... e5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d4, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 2. f4 Challenges the pawn on e5 - the central tension has to resolve. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the King's Gambit: development and initiative over material.
• 2... exf4 Takes the pawn on f4, toward the centre. Theory calls this the King's Gambit Accepted.

Sign in to read every move's note and train this line — 9 more moves in this line, 13 in all.