<HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO READ <!<!>!>!>

http://kenilworthian.blogspot.com/2...

(with a circular reference to this collection ;))

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"Despite its name, the Elephant Gambit is a carnivore among chess openings!" -- Tim Harding

This is a fascinating opening that can yield great results against the unprepared. It makes for exciting Chess win or lose.

The Elephant Gambit (also called the Queen's Pawn Counter Gambit or Englund Counterattack) is a rarely played chess opening beginning with the moves: <1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5!?>

In this gambit, Black ignores the attack on his e-pawn and immediately tries to wrest the initiative from White. The main idea is that Black has sacrificed a pawn to gain a move and must obtain compensation for it. The resulting position can be sharp for White, and thus may be a good surprise opening for Black. It is generally considered unsound, because if White plays accurately Black does not get sufficient compensation for the sacrificed pawn. One of the Elephant Gambit's leading modern-day exponents is Philip Corbin.

Lines

Unfortunately, White is able to capture either of Black's center pawns with the advantage, either by 3. exd5 or 3. Nxe5. With a center pawn removed, Black is in a passive position with White clearly having the initiative as White controls more space. A typical line might continue

a) <3.exd5 e4> (3...Qxd5 saves the pawn, but leaves White with a big lead in development after 4.Nc3) <4.Qe2 Nf6 5.d3 Qxd5 6.Nbd2 Be7 7.dxe4 Qe6> and White remains a pawn ahead, though Black's development is somewhat smoother.

Alternatives are:

b) <3...Bd6> (the Elephant Gambit proper) with <4. d4 e4 5. Ne5 Nf6 6. Nc3 0-0 7. Bc4> ..., but here White enjoys a distinct superiority, but no immediate attack, according to de Firmian.

c) <3. Nxe5>, Black plays <3...Bd6 4. d4 dxe4 5. Bc4 Bxe5 6. Qh5 Qf6 7. dxe5>, which is thought to be slightly better for White.

d) After <1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. Qe2>, Black plays <4...f5 5. d3 Nf6 6. dxe4 fxe4 7. Nc3 Bb4 8. Qb5+ c6 9. Qxb4 exf3> with 10. <Bg5 cxd5 11. 0-0-0 Nc6> as in Tal-Lutikov, Tallinn 1964 (see de Firmian) with advantage for White. The continuation of the game can be found here: 1.

e) After <1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. Qe2 Nf6

e1) 5. d3 Be7 6. dxe4 0-0 7. Nc3 Re8 8. Bd2 Bb4 9. 0-0-0, with advantage for White (de Firmian).

<e2) 5. Nc3 Be7 6. Nxe4

e2a) 6...Nxd5 7. d3 0-0 8. Qd1 Bg4 9. Be2 f5 10. Ng3 Nc6 11. c3 with slight advantage for White, as in Salomonsson-H. Sorenson, Malmo 1982 (de Firmian).

e2b) 6...0-0 7. Nxf6+ Bxf6 8. d4 Re8 9. Be3, with distinct superiority for White (de Firmian).>

f) <3. d4> can be used to enter some uncommon territory.

Wikipedia article: Elephant Gambit

Countrin ze EG, by Eric Schiller: http://www.ericschiller.com/pdf/Ele...

Elephant Miniatures, by H. Nakamura https://web.archive.org/web/2012051...

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More Facinating than Correct - Black against e4
Compiled by User: takchess --*--
Black has a solid lead in development and decides to go for an idea that is more fascinating than correct. -- Jacob Aaagard

.....My Chess life story.

Games that reflect openings I like to play. From an extremely optimistic perspective. I think of myself like Tal if Tal had no talent.