Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bb5/3...Nf6/4. O-O/4...Bc5/5. c3

Zukertort gambit
	a b c d e f g h 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 a b c d e f g h
	Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) r1bqk2r/pppp1ppp/2n2n2/1Bb1p3/4P3/2P2N2/PP1P1PPP/RNBQ1RK1
	Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. c3
	ECO code: C65
	Parent: ; Berlin defence, Beverwijk variation; Classical defence, central variation;

5. c3 · Zukertort gambit

White leaves their e4 pawn undefended.

Accepting with 5...Nxe4 increases the pressure on f2. If White plays inaccurately they are in trouble: 6. Re1?? allows either 6...Bxf2+! (7. Kh1 Bxe1 8. Qxe1 Nf6-+ and Black is up four points of material) or 6...Nxf2! (7. Qa4 Nd3+ 8. Re3 Bxe3+ 9. dxe3 Nxc1-+). White can try 6. d4 to obstruct the bishop, but their best reply is 6. Qe2, attacking the knight and eventually winning back the pawn or more.

More common is to decline with 5...O-O, avoiding these complications. White continues 6. d4 and achieves a big centre with tempo.

With White having now played c3, 5...a6? is a mistake. White's pawn on c3 now prevents Black's standard exchange Spanish rejoinder Qd4. 5...a6? 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Nxe4 and 7...Qd4 is not possible due to the pawn on c3.

Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bb5/3...Nf6/4. O-O/4...Bc5/5. c3

5. c3 · Zukertort gambit

Theory table

References

See also

Zukertort gambit
a b c d e f g h 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) r1bqk2r/pppp1ppp/2n2n2/1Bb1p3/4P3/2P2N2/PP1P1PPP/RNBQ1RK1
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. c3
ECO code: C65
Parent: Berlin defence, Beverwijk variation Classical defence, central variation