General Information
The Match
The Gambit Match was finished after nearly 2˝ years. Fighting continued until the last game. A rook sacrifice by Black in the King's Gambit became the decisive combination.
The most popular openings in the 19th century were gambits, starting with 1. e4 e5. Thereafter more prudent openings were preferred. Gambits remained interesting for correspondence chess, due to their lively nature. However, the interest for most sacrifices in an early stage of the game did not survive the age of computers. Still the desire for more spectacular openings than the Russian Defence and Ruy Lopez remained.
Six daring openings were tested in a match between the former world champions of correspondence chess, Mikhail Umansky and Gert Jan Timmerman. The selection has become a mix of real gambits and sharp openings, possibly leading to gambits. All openings give about fifty-fifty chances. The games are recorded on the ICCF webserver www.iccf-webchess.com
The Games
- Game 1: 1. e4 e5 2. .. exf4, King's Gambit Accepted.
- Game 2: 1. e4 e5 not 2. .. exf4, King's Gambit Declined.
Can we regard the King's Gambit as a royal opening or an early weakening of the kingside? Important lines are 2. .. Bc5 (Classical Defence) and 2. .. d5 (Falkbeer Counter-Gambit).
- Game 3: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5, Two Knights Defence, classical line.
- Game 4: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4, Two Knights Defence, main line.
The dull 4. d3 has become usual. Chief answers for 4. Ng5 are 4. .. d5 and 4. .. Bc5. The Max Lange attack is well-known: 4. d4 exd4 5. 0-0!? Bc5!? 5. e5.
- Game 5: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4, Scotch Game.
- Game 6: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4, Evans Gambit.
Main choices in the Scotch are: 3. .. exd4 4. Nxd4 (main line), 3. .. exd4 4. Bc4 (Scotch Gambit), and 3. .. exd4 4. c3 (might lead to the Göring Gambit).
The Gambits
As mentioned before, gambits have a firm place in the history of chess: the King's Gambit was usual in the early recorded games, former world champion Estrin loved to play the Two Knights Defence, and the Scotch Gambit was named after the match Edinburgh - London, 1824-28. Remarkable details are known about the invention of the Evans Gambit. Captain William Davies Evans commanded a steam postal packet between Wales and Ireland. He conceived the sacrifice of the b-pawn at sea during the 1820's. The opening was tested in games with Alexander McDonnell at St Martin's Lane in London. Captain Evans also invented a safety system of white, green and red lights at sea during the 1830's.
The original idea was a general advice to play sharper openings to Stellwagen. But the ideas multiplied and ended in the WebChess Gambit Match between Umansky and Timmerman. The drawing of lots for the openings took place on Friday 13 May 2005.
Our players Timmerman and Umansky have celebrated great successes in correspondence chess tournaments. Their greatest victories have been analysed and can be found among other fine events on: www.endgame.nl/cc.htm
Historical information on correspondance chess can be found on www.endgame.nl/cc-history.htm