Van Geet Opening (B00-B01 (+A00, C31))

Main lineA00

1. Nc3

No pawn stands on d4, e4, d5 or e5 - this line is played with the centre squares empty.

1. Nc3 Develops the knight to c3, eyeing d5 and e4. Theory calls this the Van Geet Opening.

Laroche GambitA00

1. Nc3 b5

1... b5 Opens the c8-a6 diagonal for the bishop. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Laroche Gambit: development and initiative over material.

Reversed NimzowitschA00

1. Nc3 e5

In the centre, Black holds e5.

1... e5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d4, and frees the bishop and queen. Theory calls this the Reversed Nimzowitsch.

Battambang VariationA00

1. a3 e5 2. Nc3

1. a3 A useful waiting move that keeps the structure flexible on the a-file. Theory calls this the Anderssen's Opening.
2. Nc3 Theory calls this the Battambang Variation.

Düsseldorf GambitA00

1. Nc3 c5 2. b4

1... c5 Fights for d4 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn.
2. b4 Challenges the pawn on c5 - the central tension has to resolve. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Düsseldorf Gambit: development and initiative over material.

Myers AttackA00

1. Nc3 g6 2. h4

1... g6 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via g7.
2. h4 A useful waiting move that grabs space on the h-file. Theory calls this the Myers Attack.

Twyble AttackA00

1. Nc3 c5 2. Rb1

2. Rb1 Develops the rook to b1. It backs up the pawn on b2. Theory calls this the Twyble Attack.

Tübingen GambitA00

1. Nc3 Nf6 2. g4

1... Nf6 Develops the knight to f6, eyeing d5 and e4.
2. g4 Opens the f1-h3 diagonal for the bishop. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Tübingen Gambit: development and initiative over material.

Billockus-Johansen GambitA00

1. Nc3 e5 2. Nf3 Bc5

2. Nf3 Develops the knight to f3, eyeing d4 and e5.
2... Bc5 Develops the bishop to c5, eyeing d4. It eyes f2, the one square only the king defends. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Billockus-Johansen Gambit: development and initiative over material.

Damhaug GambitA00

1. Nc3 d5 2. f4 e5

In the centre, Black holds d5 and e5.

1... d5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e4, and frees the bishop and queen.
2. f4 Fights for e5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn.
2... e5 The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Damhaug Gambit: development and initiative over material.

Warsteiner GambitA00

1. Nc3 d5 2. f4 g5

In the centre, Black holds d5.

2... g5 Challenges the pawn on f4 - the central tension has to resolve. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Warsteiner Gambit: development and initiative over material.

An early pawn trade leaves the d-file as Black's avenue and the e-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.

2. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen.
2... dxe4 Takes the pawn on e4, toward the centre and opens the d-file for the queen.

Dunst-Perrenet GambitA00

1. Nc3 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. d3

Hector GambitA00

1. Nc3 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Bc4

Kluever GambitA00

1. Nc3 f5 2. e4 fxe4 3. d3

An early pawn trade leaves the e-file as White's avenue and the f-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file.

1... f5 Fights for e4 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn.
2... fxe4 Takes the pawn on e4, toward the centre.

Napoleon AttackA00

1. Nc3 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4

The pawns on d4 and e5 stand in direct tension - the first player to resolve it chooses the structure.

2... Nc6 Develops the knight to c6, eyeing d4 and e5. It also props up the e5 pawn.

Nowokunski GambitA00

1. Nc3 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. e4

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.

2. f4 Challenges the pawn on e5 - the central tension has to resolve. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Bahr Gambit: development and initiative over material.
2... exf4 Takes the pawn on f4, toward the centre.

Venezolana VariationA00

1. Nc3 d5 2. d3 Nf6 3. g3

2. d3 Supports the centre, adding control of e4.
2... Nf6 It also props up the d5 pawn.

Hergert GambitA00

1. Nc3 d6 2. f4 e5 3. fxe5 Nc6

White is up material out of the opening - Black is banking on activity to show for it.

1... d6 Supports the centre, adding control of e5.

Hulsemann GambitA00

1. Nc3 e5 2. e3 d5 3. Qh5 Be6

Black's pawn on f7 is pinned against the king.

2. e3 Supports the centre, adding control of d4.

Liebig GambitA00

1. Nc3 e5 2. e3 d5 3. Qh5 Nf6

Melleby GambitA00

1. Nc3 d5 2. f4 d4 3. Ne4 c5

In the centre, Black holds d4.

2... d4 Puts the question to the knight on c3 - retreat, trade, or be taken.

Pfeiffer GambitA00

1. Nc3 d5 2. f4 d4 3. Ne4 e5

In the centre, Black holds d4 and e5.

Sleipnir GambitA00

1. Nc3 d5 2. e3 e5 3. d4 Bb4

White's knight on c3 is pinned against the king.

Gladbacher GambitA00

1. Nc3 e5 2. b3 d5 3. e4 dxe4 4. d3

2. b3 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via b2.

Novosibirsk VariationA00

1. Nc3 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qh4

An early pawn trade leaves the c-file as Black's avenue and the d-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file.

2. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen.
2... cxd4 Takes the pawn on d4, toward the centre.

Berlin GambitB00

1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. d5

1... Nc6 Theory calls this the Nimzowitsch Defense.
2... d5 Theory calls this the Scandinavian Variation.

Grünfeld DefenseB01

1. e4 d5 2. Nc3 dxe4 3. Nxe4 e5

1... d5 Theory calls this the Scandinavian Defense.
2. Nc3 It also props up the e4 pawn.

Grünfeld Defense, Steiner GambitC31

1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4

2. f4 The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the King's Gambit: development and initiative over material.
2... d5 The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Falkbeer Countergambit: development and initiative over material.

Van Geet Opening