Misplaced Pages

Blumenfeld Countergambit

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
(Redirected from Blumenfeld Gambit) Chess opening
Blumenfeld Countergambit
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishoph8 black rooka7 black pawnd7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawne6 black pawnf6 black knightb5 black pawnc5 black pawnd5 white pawnc4 white pawnf3 white knighta2 white pawnb2 white pawne2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawna1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishoph1 white rook8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Moves1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nf3 b5
ECOE10
Named afterBenjamin Blumenfeld
ParentBenoni Defense

The Blumenfeld Countergambit is a chess opening characterised by the moves 3...e6 4.Nf3 b5 in the Benoni Defense arising after:

1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 c5
3. d5 e6
4. Nf3 b5

or alternatively:

1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. Nf3 c5
4. d5 b5

In fact, as many as 30 different move orders are possible. The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings sorts the Blumenfeld Countergambit under code E10 (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3).

This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

General considerations

Black sacrifices a wing pawn to establish an imposing centre with pawns on c5, d5 and e6. The natural development of the bishops to b7 and d6, combined with the half-open f-file for a rook, tend to facilitate Black's play on the kingside. White, on the other hand, will typically look to counter in the centre by playing e4 at some point, while their additional queenside pawn also offers them some initiative on that side of the board.

Origin

The opening is named after the Russian master Benjamin Blumenfeld, and was later played by World Champion Alexander Alekhine.

The opening position can also be reached via the Benko Gambit (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.Nf3 e6). Possible continuations are 5.dxe6 (Kan–Goldenov, 1946), 5.Bg5 (Vaganian–K. Grigorian, 1971), 5.e4, or 5.a4 (Rubinstein–Spielmann, 1922), with 5.Bg5 being most frequently seen when this gambit is employed.

See also

References

  1. Opening Report: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5 (1914 games)
  2. Kasparov, Gary; Raymond Keene (1982). Batsford Chess Openings. B. T. Batsford, London. ISBN 0-7134-2114-2.

Further reading

Chess
Outline
Equipment
History
Rules
Terms
Tactics
Strategy
Openings
Flank opening
King's Pawn Game
Queen's Pawn Game
Other
Endgames
Tournaments
Art and media
Related
Category: