Blumenfeld Gambit

Blumenfeld Gambit

a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Moves	1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nf3 b5
ECO	E10
Named after	Benjamin Blumenfeld
Parent	Benoni Defense

The Blumenfeld Gambit is a chess opening characterised by the moves 3...e6 4.Nf3 b5 in the Benoni Defence arising after:

1. d4 Nf6

2. c4 c5

3. d5 e6

4. Nf3 b5

or alternatively:

1. d4 Nf6

2. c4 e6

3. Nf3 c5

4. d5 b5

In fact, as many as 30 different move orders are possible.^[1] The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO) sorts the Blumenfeld Gambit under code E10 (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3).

General considerations

Black sacrifices a wing pawn to establish an imposing centre with pawns on c5, d5 and e6. The natural development of the bishops to b7 and d6, combined with the open f-file for a rook, tend to facilitate Black's play on the kingside. White, on the other hand, will typically look to counter in the centre by playing e4 at some point, while his additional queenside pawn also offers him some initiative on that side of the board.

Origin

The opening is named after the Russian master Benjamin Blumenfeld, and was later played by World Chess Champion Alexander Alekhine.

The opening position can also be reached via the Benko Gambit (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.Nf3 e6). Possible continuations are 5.dxe6 (Kan-Goldenov, 1946), 5.Bg5 (Vaganian-K. Grigorian, 1971), 5.e4, or 5.a4 (Rubinstein-Spielmann, 1922),^[2] with 5.Bg5 being most frequently seen when this gambit is employed.

See also

• List of chess openings
• List of chess openings named after people

References

1. Opening Report: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5 (1914 games)
2. Kasparov, Gary; Raymond Keene (1982). Batsford Chess Openings. B. T. Batsford, London. ISBN 0-7134-2114-2.

Further reading

• Przewoznik, Jan; Pein, Malcolm (1991). The Blumenfeld Gambit. Pergamon Chess. ISBN 0-08-037132-9.

External links

• Blumenfeld Gambit - Yearbook Surveys - New In Chess