The Cunningham Gambit : King's Gambit Openings - Part 2

Welcome to Part 2 of the King's Gambit Openings miniseries. Part 1 focused on the King's Gambit Proper AKA King's Knight's Gambit. This lesson will explain The Cunningham Gambit.

The Cunningham Gambit.

GAME THE FIRST.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. P. to K. B's 4th.	2. P. takes P.
3. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	3. K. B. to K's 2d.
Black's 3d move commences the variation known as the "Cunningham Gambit."
4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.	4. B. to R's 5th. (ch.)
5. K. to B's sq.	5. K. B. to his 3d.
6. P. to K's 5th.	6. B. to K's 2d.
7. P. to Q's 4th.	7. P. to Q's 4th.
8. K. B. to K's 2d.	8. P. to K. Kt's 4th.
9. P. to K. R's 4th.	9. P. to K. Kt's 5th.
10. K. Kt to K. R's 2d.	10. P. to K. R's 4th.
11. Q. B. takes P.	11. K. B. takes K. R. P.
12. P. to K. Kt's 3d.	12. B. to K. Kt's 4th.
13. Kt. takes K. Kt. P.
You must win.

GAME THE SECOND.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. P. to K. B's 4th.	2. P. takes P.
3. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	3. B. to K's 2d.
4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.	4. B. to K. R's 5th. (ch.)
5. P. to K. Kt's 3d.	5. P. takes P.
6. Castles.	6. P. takes P. (ch.)
7. K. to R's sq.	7. K. B. to his 3d.
8. K. Kt. to K's 5th.	8. B. takes Kt. (best)
9. Q. to K. R's 5th.	9. Q. to K's 2d. (best)
10. R. takes K. B. P.	10. Q. to her B's 4th.
11. R. to K. B's 8th. (dble. ch.)	11. K. to his 2d.
12. P. to Q's 4th.	12. Q. takes P. (best)
13. Q. B. checks.	13. K. to Q's 3d. (best)
14. Q. Kt. to Q's 2d.	14. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
15. Q. to K. B's 7th.	15. Kt. takes K. P.
16. Q. B. to K's 3d.	16. K. Kt. to his 6th. (ch.)
17. K. to Kt's 2d.	17. Q. takes B.
18. Q. to her 5th. (ch.)	18. K. to his 2d.
19. Q. to K. B's 7th. (ch.)	19. K. to Q's 3d.
Drawn game.

Variation,

Beginning at Black's 7th move.

WHITE.	BLACK.
	7. P. to Q's 4th.
8. B. takes P.	8. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
9. B. takes K. B. P. (ch.)	9. K. takes B.
10. Kt. takes K. B.	10. K. R. to B's sq.
11. P. to Q's 4th.	11. K. to Kt's sq.
12. Q. B. to K. Kt's 5th.	12. K. Kt. takes K. P.
13. B. takes Q.	13. R. takes R. (ch.)
14. Q. takes R.	14. Kt. to his 6th. (ch.)
15. K. takes P.	15. Kt. takes Q. (ch.)
He has the better game.

Another Variation.

WHITE.	BLACK.
	7. B. to K'S 2d.
8. B. takes B. P. (ch.)	8. K. takes B.
9. Kt. to K's 5th. (dble. ch.)	9. K. to his 3d. (best)
10. Q. to K. Kt's 4th. (ch.)	10. K. takes Kt.
11. Q. to K. B's 5th. (ch.)	11. K. to Q's 3d.
12. Q. to her 5th.
And wins.

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GAME

ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE CUNNINGHAM GAMBIT.

Between two members of the Berlin Chess Club.

WHITE.  (V. H. d. L.)	BLACK.  (M. J.)
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. P. to K. B's 4th.	2. P. takes P.
3. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	3. K. B. to K's 2d.
4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.	4. B. to K. R's 5th. (ch.)
5. P. to K. Kt's 3d.[A]	5. P. takes P.
6. Castles.	6. P. takes P. (ch.)
7. K. to R's sq.	7. K. B. to B's 3d.
8. Kt. to K's 5th.	8. B. takes Kt.
9. Q. to K. R's 5th.	9. Q. to K's 2d.
10. R. takes K. B. P.	10. Q. to her B's 4th.
11. R. to K. B's 8th. (dble ch.)	11. K. to his 2d.
12. P. to Q's 4th.	12. Q. takes P.[B]
13. B. to K. Kt's 5th. (ch.)	13. K. Kt. to B's 3d.[C]
14. B. takes Kt. (ch.)	14. P. takes B.
15. Q. to K. B's 7th. (ch.)	15. K. to Q's 3d.
16. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.	16. R. takes R.
17. Q. takes R. (ch.)	17. K. to B's 3d.
18. Q. to her Kt's 4th.	18. P. to Q's 4th.
19. B. to Kt's 5th. (ch.)	19. K. to Kt's 3d.
20. Kt. mates.

[A] The correct reply is 5. K. to B's sq.

[B] The best move.

[C] K. to Q's 3d is the proper play.

The next lesson will focus on The Salvio Gambit as I continue with my 9 part series of the King's Gambit opening chess moves on the Learn to Play Chess blog.