Arafat Gambit

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MJMcCready
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Re: Arafat Gambit

Post by MJMcCready » Tue Feb 13, 2018 6:19 pm

I mean the Arafat Gambit. A gambit should have some benefit, usually a lead in development, however short-lived that may be. If you are just dropping a pawn for nothing in return, I don't think the term gambit is the best. 1. e4 f5 isn't a gambit as far as I know.

NickFaulks
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Re: Arafat Gambit

Post by NickFaulks » Tue Feb 13, 2018 6:30 pm

MJMcCready wrote:
Tue Feb 13, 2018 6:19 pm
I mean the Arafat Gambit. A gambit should have some benefit, usually a lead in development, however short-lived that may be. If you are just dropping a pawn for nothing in return
Clearly not everyone shares your opinion, since a majority of the serious players who have faced it over the board seem to have declined it.
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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: Arafat Gambit

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Tue Feb 13, 2018 7:03 pm

MJMcCready wrote:
Tue Feb 13, 2018 6:19 pm
e4 f5 isn't a gambit as far as I know
Why not? It can certainly be argued it isn't a very good one, but that's a different thing entirely :)
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

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MJMcCready
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Re: Arafat Gambit

Post by MJMcCready » Tue Feb 13, 2018 8:29 pm

Well I always thought a gambit must have some perceived benefit at the time of discovery otherwise it shouldn't be a gambit. 1. e4 f5 2. exf5 g5 is not a gambit. Nor would 1.e4 d5 2. exd5 c6 3. bxc6 Nf6 4. cxb7 e6 5. bxa8=Q Bc5, be classified as a gambit either.

Has there been an instance of a so-called gambit being stripped of its title for being too theoretically unsound?

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MJMcCready
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Re: Arafat Gambit

Post by MJMcCready » Tue Feb 13, 2018 8:30 pm

If I recall, in 'The Complete Chess Addict' the rather pejoratively titled 'Irish Gambit' makes an appearance.

NickFaulks
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Re: Arafat Gambit

Post by NickFaulks » Tue Feb 13, 2018 9:23 pm

Nick Burrows wrote:
Mon Feb 12, 2018 3:01 pm
National Master Robert Reynolds, Grandmaster Hellers, Grandmaster Nick DeFirmian, Master Tim McGrew have also played this gambit.
Nick confirms that NM Robert Reynolds introduced this idea in Santa Barbara in the 1960s, where it attracted his name. His own attempts to play it suffered a setback when Larry Christiansen, a regular sparring partner, simply refused to continue the game, saying that it was an affront to chess.
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MJMcCready
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Re: Arafat Gambit

Post by MJMcCready » Tue Feb 13, 2018 10:10 pm

He has a point though, some 'so-called' gambits do look downright stupid. I played in the Nottingham tournament in 1993 and some guy played 'The Paris Gambit' which was just downright daft.

Nick Grey
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Re: Arafat Gambit

Post by Nick Grey » Tue Feb 13, 2018 10:20 pm

As much as I love gambits with black and white - I'll be tempted in the original position to throw in 2,,,c5.

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MJMcCready
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Re: Arafat Gambit

Post by MJMcCready » Tue Feb 13, 2018 10:24 pm

The Halloween Gambit is the only one I ever play, and only sometimes.

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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: Arafat Gambit

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Tue Feb 13, 2018 10:25 pm

MJMcCready wrote:
Tue Feb 13, 2018 8:30 pm
If I recall, in 'The Complete Chess Addict' the rather pejoratively titled 'Irish Gambit' makes an appearance.
The originator on their deathbed (supposedly) "I didn't see that the pawn was defended" :lol: :lol:
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

OsamaArafat
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Re: Arafat Gambit

Post by OsamaArafat » Sat Feb 09, 2019 9:14 am

David Sedgwick wrote:
Mon Feb 12, 2018 2:32 pm
Was it by any chance played by a Palestinian at an Olympiad?

A major drawback of the opening is that Black can avoid the critical 2 ... Nxe4 by playing 2 ... d6. I imagine that that would be more likely after 1. d4, Nf6; 2. e4 than after 1. e4, Nf6; 2. d4.
Actually Arafat Gambit was founded and played by my father Abdelmalik Arafat, (Jordanian, originally from Palestine) who was one of the founders of the Arab Chess Federation in 1975 and also the Royal Jordanian Chess Federation in 1973. This opening as I remember was somehow derived from another opening and Abdelmalik Arafat modified it and played it against one of the world champion IN 1970's and won the game.
For your information, Abdelmalik Arafat passed away in 2016.
We will be very glad if someone would help in publishing this (Arafat Gambit) in the Wikipedia.

Thank you
Osama Abdelmalik Arafat

Andrew Martin
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Re: Arafat Gambit

Post by Andrew Martin » Sat Feb 09, 2019 9:34 am

If I was Mr Arafat I wouldn’t be in any hurry to have my name pinned to this opening.

Neil Graham
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Re: Arafat Gambit

Post by Neil Graham » Sat Feb 09, 2019 10:14 am

Andrew Martin wrote:
Sat Feb 09, 2019 9:34 am
If I was Mr Arafat I wouldn’t be in any hurry to have my name pinned to this opening.
As Mr Arafat has passed away I can see no reason why his name shouldn't be linked to this for posterity. I am sure that he would appreciate that his name lives on along with many other greater chess players who have had variations named after them. A cursory glance at a chess database reveals that Abdel Malik Arafat did indeed employ this opening - perhaps someone can add one of the games to this thread?

Mick Norris
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Re: Arafat Gambit

Post by Mick Norris » Sat Feb 09, 2019 10:59 am

At a quick glance, only game I can see is a loss in the following game :oops:

Any postings on here represent my personal views

Neil Graham
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Re: Arafat Gambit

Post by Neil Graham » Sat Feb 09, 2019 11:24 am

Abdel Malik Arafat v Nigel Chudleigh - Luzern Olympiad October 1982 which was a win for White.