King's Gambit Accepted: Allgaier Gambit

Before the first move

The Allgaier Gambit is one of the most aggressive and romantic lines in the King's Gambit. White sacrifices a knight for a relentless attack against the black king. You will learn how to navigate this high-stakes battle where one wrong step leads to immediate disaster for either side.

1. e4White

White begins with e4, the most popular starting move. By occupying the center, White prepares for rapid development. While other moves like d4 or c4 are common, e4 leads to the most direct and tactical confrontations.

1... e5Black · your move

Respond by moving your pawn to e5. By mirroring White, you prevent them from grabbing more space with d4 and establish your own foothold in the center. This sets the stage for a symmetrical struggle.

Other paths here: f6 (Barnes Defense) · g5 (Borg Defense) · h6 (Carr Defense) · f5 (Duras Gambit)

2. f4White

White plays f4, the King's Gambit. This is a bold attempt to dismantle Black's center immediately. You could decline with Bc5 or Nf6, but accepting the challenge is the most testing path for both players.

Other paths here: Ke2 (Bongcloud Attack) · d4 (Center Game) · c4 (English Opening: The Whale) · Ne2 (King's Pawn Game: Alapin Opening)

2... exf4Black · your move

Capture the pawn on f4. By accepting the gambit, you challenge White to prove they have enough compensation for the material. You gain a pawn but must be ready to defend against a fierce kingside assault.

Other paths here: Bc5 (King's Gambit Declined: Classical Variation) · Qh4+ (King's Gambit Declined: Keene's Defense) · Qf6 (King's Gambit Declined: Norwalde Variation) · f5 (King's Gambit Declined: Panteldakis Countergambit)

3. Nf3White

White plays Nf3, the standard way to continue. This move develops a piece and stops the annoying Qh4 check. Other options like the Bishop's Gambit (Bc4) or the Breyer Gambit (Qf3) lead to very different types of games.

Other paths here: Qe2 (King's Gambit Accepted: Basman Gambit) · Bc4 (King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit) · Qf3 (King's Gambit Accepted: Breyer Gambit) · Qh5 (King's Gambit Accepted: Carrera Gambit)

3... g5Black · your move

Push your pawn to g5. This is the most ambitious way to defend your extra pawn on f4. You are signaling that you intend to hold onto your material advantage and challenge White's control of the kingside.

Other paths here: h6 (King's Gambit Accepted: Becker Defense) · Ne7 (King's Gambit Accepted: Bonsch-Osmolovsky Variation) · d6 (King's Gambit Accepted: Fischer Defense) · f5 (King's Gambit Accepted: Gianutio Countergambit)

4. h4White

White plays h4, immediately challenging the g5 pawn. This is the starting point for the sharpest gambits. White could also choose the more positional Rosentreter Gambit with d4 or the Quaade Gambit with Nc3.

Other paths here: Bc4 (King's Gambit Accepted: King's Knight's Gambit) · Nc3 (King's Gambit Accepted: Quaade Gambit) · d4 (King's Gambit Accepted: Rosentreter Gambit)

4... g4Black · your move

Advance your pawn to g4. This forces the white knight to move and creates immediate tension. You are continuing your aggressive stance, though you must be careful about the weaknesses you are creating around your king.

5. Ng5White

White plays Ng5, the signature move of the Allgaier. Unlike the Kieseritzky (Ne5), White allows the knight to be hounded by h6. The goal is to sacrifice the piece on f7 to draw the black king into the open.

Other paths here: Ne5 (King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit)

Where you stand

The position is a tactical powder keg. Black should play h6 to force the sacrifice on f7, leading to a hunt where White has a massive lead in development against a naked king. White must attack relentlessly, while Black must find precise defensive moves to consolidate the extra piece and survive the storm.

• h7-h6 Force the knight sacrifice on f7
• g5-f7 Sacrifice the knight to expose the king
• f1-c4 Develop the bishop to pressure f7
• d1-g4 Bring the queen into the attack
• d7-d5 Counter-strike in the center to breathe