chess online

chess online

Play online chess!

What is the advantage for Black in playing the KGA?
« Back to club forum
FromMessage
faithfulltrav
05-Aug-11, 08:08

What is the advantage for Black in playing the KGA?
I've been trying to understand this defense, the King's Gambit Accepted (KGA). From the Black standpoint it does not make sense to me.

It is commonly accepted that Black should not try to hold the pawn. So Black, in accepting the c4 pawn, moves his own d pawn away from the center to grab a pawn he can not keep. Yet a lot of Masters accept it.

I would think it is more expedient to decline the gambit or postpone d5 altogether with an Indian Defense.

What is the benefit to Black in accepting this pawn?
easy19
05-Aug-11, 12:06

"The refutation of any gambit begins with accepting it. In my opinion the King's Gambit is busted. It loses by force." - R. Fischer

in correspondence chess it will be hard. ( Database )
But in a OTB game this is about the oldest classic in the book (17th century).
And with all the variations you just have a great game going and if you know a bit of theory you can create good chances to win.

And i will accept this gambit always  
brigadecommander
05-Aug-11, 13:53

i never except.
if someone plays 2.f4 against me i 'mostly play 2....d5. The Falkbeer counter gambit. Or simply
2.....Bc5. The reason being i don't like such wild play.
rookie879
05-Aug-11, 14:58

I play the King's Gambit from time to time and I feel accepting the pawn challenges White the most
hityerclock
05-Aug-11, 18:58

Black should always accept the king's gambit. If you don't like sharp play, you can obtain equality via:

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 (3.Bc4 Be7 4.Nf4 transposes) 3...Be7 4.Bc4 (4.d4 Bh4+) 4...Nf6 5.e5 (5.Nc3 Nxe4 6.Nxe4 d5) 5...Ng4 6.O-O Nc6 7.d4 d5 8.dxe6 (8.Bd3 Ne3 9.Bxe3 fxe3 10.Qe1 O-O 11.Qxe3 f6) 8...Bxe6 9.Re1+ (9.Qe1+ Kf8 intending ...g5 and ...Kg7) 9...Ne7.

Black is at least equal, if not clearly better, in all variations. This is not the "best" theoretical continuation, but the moves are common sense developing moves that are easy to remember for OTB play, and avoid the various knife fights that white wants to initiate.
faithfulltrav
05-Aug-11, 23:35

But what are specific advantages?
Thanks Easy and BC,

BC I agree with you. But Easy, what are specific advantages for Black?
l-d-j
06-Aug-11, 02:53

KGA or QGA?
faithfultrav, didn't you mean the QGA? In your first post you talk about Indian defences, but these cannot be played instead of the KGA, so I suppose you mean QGA.
faithfulltrav
06-Aug-11, 07:23

Ooops! I meant QGA!
I was wondering why rookie and hit your clock were giving examples of the Kings Gambit. I meant QGA!

Thanks for the correction. Please respond according to QGA.

Thank you and God Bless!
Scott
hityerclock
06-Aug-11, 10:57

One thing you'll notice about 1.d5 d5 2.c4 is that in many variations of the queen's gambit declined, black does in fact capture on c4 at some point, and when he doesn't, white usually captures on d5 with the c-pawn. So black's d-pawn is going be swapped for white's c-pawn in most cases. The only question is, does black develop his pieces first or not?

This is really a matter of personal preference. The types of middle-games arising from playing 2...dxc4 (QGA) are different from those that arise from delaying this capture (QGD), so players will prefer QGA or QGD based on how comfortable the are with the resulting middle-game positions in each system.
caknight
06-Aug-11, 16:49

QGA
The idea behind 2...dxc4 is to try for free development & give White an isolated d-pawn. In the QGA blacks light square Bishop gets an active post on b7 or g4. Black should no try to hold on to the pawn but give it back for development.
faithfulltrav
06-Aug-11, 21:38

Thanks!
Thank you caknight & hit your clock. But caknight, how does white get an isolated d pawn, when he still has the e pawn?
brigadecommander
06-Aug-11, 21:54

QGA
i play a different line as white in the QGA. I played it a few times already and had good
results. The reason i like it is because its a lot simpler(not better) then those being discussed.
When i first played this line i looked up the QGA on 'wikipedia' and found the following;



{3.e4

3. e4 is a newer line — actually a resurrected classical line — aggressively establishing a pawn
center and making a bid for central control which Black will try to undermine. It is called the
Central Variation by Rizzitano, who notes its increase in popularity and strategic and tactical
complexity.[2] Raetsky and Chetverik consider the line straightforward and critical, and remark
that anyone playing the Queen's Gambit Accepted with Black must be prepared to meet it.[1]

Trying to protect the pawn with the greedy 3...b5 is fairly risky and rarely seen.[1] The main
reply against the Central Variation is opposing the pawn center with 3...e5, which is a highly
theoretical system. Other replies aimed at challenging the center are 3...Nc6 with ideas akin to
the Chigorin Defense, 3...Nf6, provoking 4.e5, and 3...c5 undermining the center at d4.}
faithfulltrav
22-Aug-11, 16:48

What is the advantage Black in playing the QGA?
Thanks every one for your help!

Scott
mchess8484
23-Aug-11, 06:30

From my own experience playing the white pieces of the KGA if black knows the right lines he
can make it very tough for white to get any advantage. Although some of my best games have
come from this opening I rarely play the King's Gambit because with correspondence chess it is
very easy for black to choose the best lines from the databases.



GameKnot: play chess online, free online chess games database, Internet chess league, monthly chess tournaments, chess teams, chess clubs, online chess puzzles and more.