Muzio Gambit

Muzio Gambit
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
d7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
c4 white bishop
e4 white pawn
f4 black pawn
g4 black pawn
f3 white knight
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
c2 white pawn
d2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
f1 white rook
g1 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
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Moves 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.O-O
ECO C37
Origin Manuscript by Giulio Cesare Polerio
Named after From a translation of Alessandro Salvio by Jacob Sarratt, who misattributed the move to Mutio d'Allesandro
Parent King's Gambit

In chess, the Muzio Gambit, sometimes called the Polerio Gambit, is an opening line in the King's Gambit in which White sacrifices a knight for a large lead in development and attacking chances. It begins with the moves

1. e4 e5
2. f4 exf4
3. Nf3 g5
4. Bc4 g4
5. 0-0

White sacrifices a knight, in the hope that the attack against the black king will be overwhelming.

History

The opening was originally analyzed by Giulio Cesare Polerio in the late 16th century;[1] the first recorded game is by the Neapolitan player Geronimo Cascio in Alessandro Salvio's Il Puttino, published in 1634.[2] The name "Muzio Gambit" originated with the English chess writer Jacob Sarratt, who misattributed the opening to Cascio's contemporary Mutio d'Allesandro in his translation of Il Puttino. In its original form, White used Italian-style free castling, placing the king on h1 and rook on f1, for an even stronger attack.

Analysis

In his book on the King's Gambit, Scottish grandmaster John Shaw does not recommend the Muzio Gambit, preferring either the Kieseritzky Gambit or the Quaade Gambit, and treats it relatively briefly.[3] He considers the main line of the Muzio to be as follows:

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.O-O gxf3 6.Qxf3 Qf6

6...Qe7 is a side line.

7.e5

7.d3 is possible.

7...Qxe5 8.Bxf7+

This is known as the Double Muzio, and is very dangerous against an unprepared opponent.

8...Kxf7 9.d4 Qf5!

Shaw does not recommend 9...Qxd4+, which "grabs a meaningless pawn, opens another line for White's attack and makes the black queen vulnerable on the dark squares". After 9...Qf5, Shaw cites the game Showalter-Taubenhaus, New York 1889,[4] as an example of a successful defence by Black.

References

  1. ↑ The New Handbuch - IV, The British Chess Magazine, Volume 11, December 1891, p 544
  2. ↑ Cascio vs NN, Napoli, 1634
  3. ↑ John Shaw, The King's Gambit, Quality Chess, 2013, p. 197-99. ISBN 978-1-906552-71-8.
  4. ↑ Jackson Whipps Showalter vs Jean Taubenhaus, New York 1889
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