English Chess Forum

I thought this would be perfect timing to start a Topic on the Halloween Gambit.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nxf6 4 Nxe5 Nxe5 5 d4
Just wandering what your views are on this.
Is it a dubious or scary opening?
Has any forumites played with or against it?
Has it been played by any titled players?
Many thanks.

Simon Rogers wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 28, 2021 10:19 pm

I thought this would be perfect timing to start a Topic on the Halloween Gambit.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nxf6 4 Nxe5 Nxe5 5 d4
Just wandering what your views are on this.
Is it a dubious or scary opening?
Has any forumites played with or against it?
Has it been played by any titled players?

It's an internet Blitz idea from around 25 years ago, which arguably has escaped into the mainstream. If you have a large database, there will be examples of Black successfully consolidating the extra material.

A broad assessment may be that White sacrifices a piece for a pawn but gets a pawn's worth of compensation.

i expect some titled players have played it in Blitz.

There's also a reversed version possible against the Glek system.
So 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g3 Nxe4
The extra move may even improve it a bit as g3 isn't available as a retreat for the Knight.

Search for "Eric Rosen" "Halloween Gambit" Youtube on Google and watch several videos...

I have played it online a couple of times, but only against selected opponents.

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 29, 2021 3:34 pm

I have played it online a couple of times, but only against selected opponents.

What are those selection criteria?

"What are those selection criteria?"

People I've played before and either (a) I expect to win anyway, or (b) I want to make them laugh. Overriding though is (c) that I don't care particularly about online Blitz results. Chess is supposed to be fun.

It catches quite a few of the unaware because White can quickly build a scary looking centre.

As ever, returning material at the appropriate moment can be an effective counter.

It was the subject of a piece by Tim Krabbé on the Chess Café some years ago.

In a word, this gambit is garbage.

Nick Ivell wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 30, 2021 7:26 pm

In a word, this gambit is garbage.

Not according to the summary at the end of the article.

This is not a gambit but a reckless attempt.