The Swiss Gambit is a chess opening which is an offshoot of Bird's Opening (1.f4) and begins with the moves:
Published theory
The following were the main lines of the Swiss Gambit given by F. A. Lange in 1859:
- 2...fxe4 3.Qh5+
- 2...fxe4 3.f5
- 2...fxe4 3.Bc4
- 2...fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d3
Polish theoretician Alexander Wagner (1868–1942) published an article entitled A New Gambit. The Swiss Gambit in 1912. The Wagner Gambit begins with the moves: 1.f4 f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.g4.[1]
Other uses
The term "Swiss Gambit" is also used colloquially to describe a strategy for Swiss system tournaments. In a "Swiss Gambit", a player loses or draws against weaker players early in the tournament, in the hope of being paired against weaker opposition in later rounds and finishing in the prize money.[2]
See also
References
- ^ Edward Winter, 'The Swiss Gambit'
- ^ Eade, James (2005). Chess For Dummies (2 ed.). John Wiley & Sons (published 19 August 2005). p. 249. ISBN 978-0-4717-7433-4. Retrieved 7 February 2014.