Danish Gambit & Centre Game

The Halasz Gambit (3.f4)

A Centre Game in the spirit of the King's Gambit: a pawn for the e4-f4 centre.

1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.f4 Bc5 4.Nf3 d6 5.c3 dxc3 6.Nxc3

Move by move

1. 1.e4 – White occupies the centre and frees the queen and the f1-bishop. In the Danish and the Centre Game, speed of development will matter more than pawns.
2. 1...e5 – Black replies symmetrically, contesting d4 and freeing the f8-bishop. Now White can open the game at once with d4.
3. 2.d4 – White attacks e5 and opens the centre. After 2...exd4 White chooses between the gambit 3.c3 (Danish) and the immediate recapture 3.Qxd4 (Centre Game).
4. 2...exd4 – Black captures: the most natural reply, since defending e5 with 2...d6 leads to a passive game. The d4-pawn becomes either bait or a target to win back.
5. 3.f4 – Halasz Gambit: instead of recapturing on d4, White plays f4 to control e5 and prepare Nf3 and c3, with a mobile e4-f4 centre.
6. 3...Bc5 – The bishop defends d4 and eyes the g1-a7 diagonal weakened by f4: while it stays there, White cannot castle short.
7. 4.Nf3 – The knight attacks d4 and prepares c3 to open the game.
8. 4...d6 – Black controls e5 to stop e4-e5 and opens the c8-bishop's diagonal.
9. 5.c3 – White offers a pawn to open the c-file and develop the knight to c3 with tempo.
10. 5...dxc3 – Black accepts and stays a pawn up, but White gets quick development and the e4-f4 centre.
11. 6.Nxc3 – The knight recaptures with development. White is a pawn down but has active pieces and the centre; short castling is still prevented by the c5-bishop.

How to exploit the position

White is a pawn down but has the e4-f4 centre and quick development; Black has an active c5-bishop on the g1-a7 diagonal, which prevents White from castling short for now.

• Bc4 and Qb3: White's pieces aim at f7, Black's weak point.
• e4-e5: supported by the f4-pawn, the push opens lines and kicks a knight from f6.
• Be3: opposes the c5-bishop and clears the way to castle short; alternatively Qe2, Bd2 and O-O-O.
• Watch out for ...Nf6-g4: the black knight eyes e3 and f2 along the c5-bishop's diagonal.

Master tips

Neutralise the c5-bishop

In the Halasz Gambit the g1-a7 diagonal is White's weak spot: while the c5-bishop controls it, the king cannot castle short.