You’ve seen the Queen’s Gambit, but what is the Opening?
One of the things which impressed me the most about the hit Netflix show “The Queen’s Gambit” which was how spot-on the chess was. They were meticulous about every detail which, as an experienced tournament player, I absolutely loved and appreciated. A lot of chess movies and miniseries get the details absurdly wrong. But what exactly is the Queen’s Gambit chess opening?
The Queen’s gambit is a popular chess opening in which white offers to sacrifice a pawn to black in exchange for complete control of the center. There are two major variations depending on black’s response. Black has the opportunity to accept white’s pawn, called the Queen’s Gambit accepted, or decline the pawn, leading to the Queen’s Gambit declined.
The Queen’s Gambit position. Black can accept the pawn leading to the Queen’s Gambit Accepted (often abbreviated QGA) opening family, or she can decline the gambit leading to the Queen’s Gambit Declined (QGD) family.
So what is a Gambit?
In chess terms, a gambit is a risk. You’re offering a pawn in exchange for something else, usually space or speed. I’m an aggressive players, and so I love gambit openings. One of my favorite openings is the Scotch Gambit!
Black can try to hold onto the extra pawn with Bc5. It’s a perfectly sound opening for both sides. One of the most bonkers gambits is called the “Fried Liver attack.” I would highly recommend playing the Fried Liver attack in some online blitz games for fun, but never as an actual, serious endeavor. The Fried Liver attack sacrifices a knight in exchange for two pawns and a strong attack on the black king!
Yeah. Gambits are a lot of fun in my opinion. So what about the Queen’s Gambit? Well, I hate to disappoint but sadly the Queen’s Gambit is not a true gambit. That means it’s not the swashbuckling, daring opening that we see from both the Scotch and the Fried Liver attack. Unfortunately, even if black takes the pawn, he has to give it back or he’ll get clobbered. So what happens if black tries to take the pawn and hold onto it?
So that’s what I mean when I say it’s not a true gambit. If black accepts the gambit, she cannot hold onto the extra pawn. In fact, she needs to just go ahead and think of it as lost and work towards the actual goal of the Queen’s Gambit Accepted.
Queen’s Gambit Accepted
So what is the goal of the Queen’s gambit accepted? The same as in all chess games. Center control. Black has a few options in chess openings. Black can fight white for control of the center, or let white have it and then start tearing it down immediately. The QGA is pursuing the latter strategy. This is an important axiom in chess. If your opponent gains two center pawns, you should strike at them immediately! So with that axiom in mind, the QGA can nearly play itself. Let white have the center, and then strike at it.
C5. Here’s the heart of the Queen’s Gambit Accepted for black. Striking at that white center. In the Queen’s Gambit Accepted, the position is often open and more tactical. White often ends up with an isolated center pawn, which she must be comfortable playing. And likewise, black must know the correct technique for playing against an isolated center pawn. Thus, it should be stated that openings are not intended to clobber your opponent into submission. They’re intended to reach positions and games you’re comfortable with playing!
“Openings are not intended to clobber your opponent into submission. They’re intended to reach positions and games you’re comfortable with playing!”
I literally just said that, but a quote here emphasizes it nicely.
Queen’s Gambit Declined
In the QGD, black is choosing a different pathway. Fighting white for the center and trying to maintain control rather than just giving control to white. The Queen’s Gambit declined often leads to more “closed” games where the pawn structure is locked up and the knights play a more prominent role.
Neither player has clear control of the center. In fact, whoever begins exchanging pieces is relieving the tension, and often is relieving their advantage. Mounting tension, and who can manage it better, is a theme in chess strategy.
Grabbing the Center Too Fast
So what about some off-the-wall consideration where white tries to seize control of the center right away? White has to be super careful with grabbing control of the center without proper support or she will get overextended, and have pawns hanging out in the black camp without proper defense.
In Conclusion
The Queen’s Gambit is a fantastic opening, and it’s in almost every serious player’s repertoire. It’s a sound opening for both sides and offers an amazingly diverse array of principled play even from just move 2.
