Muzio Gambit
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| Moves | 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.O-O | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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
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
- ^ The New Handbuch - IV, The British Chess Magazine, Volume 11, December 1891, p 544
- ^ Cascio vs NN, Napoli, 1634
- ^ John Shaw, The King's Gambit, Quality Chess, 2013, p. 197-99. ISBN 978-1-906552-71-8.
- ^ Jackson Whipps Showalter vs Jean Taubenhaus, New York 1889
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