Duras Gambit

A pawn thrown at e4, and a bet on chaos

Gambits
Offbeat

After 1.e4 Black answers 1…f5 and offers a pawn without much in return. The move develops nothing and opens diagonals towards the king. The opening is thought dubious: people play it for surprise, and more often in quick games than in serious ones.

Interactive Opening Board

4…Nc6

♚

Black

♔

White

4…Nc6

Speed:

Moves

(8 plies • 4 moves)

4…Nc6Tabiya

1–4moves
#WhiteBlack
1.
2.
3.
4.

Defining move

1…f5 — a gambit on move one

The move that makes it a gambit

The f5 pawn attacks e4 at once, but White simply takes it: 2.exf5. Black is a pawn down, and f7-f5 developed nothing and opened the h5–e8 diagonal: the check Qh5+ is already possible. Black hopes to win the pawn back with …Nf6, …d5 and …Ne4.

Tabiya

White a pawn up, Black with a centre and pieces out

White has taken the pawn and keeps it on f5. Black has the d5 pawn in the centre and both knights out, and wants …Ne4 and …Bxf5. White must develop calmly and not let Black win the material back. If White makes no slip, the extra pawn stays.

White’s plan

Accept the offer with 2.exf5 and not give the extra pawn back without need.
Take the centre with d4 and develop.
Keep the check Qh5+ in mind: Black's king is exposed.

Black’s plan

Win the pawn back with …Nf6, …d5, …Ne4 and …Bxf5.
Develop quickly and castle while the h5–e8 diagonal is open to checks.
Count on the opponent losing the thread.

History

The opening is named after the Czech master Oldřich Duras.

Legends who played it

Oldřich Duras
as Black · Named after the player

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