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Devin Gambit
The Devin Gambit is an offbeat chess opening that begins with the moves:
In this gambit, White offers a sacrifice of the g-pawn on g4, where it can be captured by Black's knight. In offering the gambit, White plans to play for central control by placing a pawn on e4.
The opening is tricky and may offer practical chances for White in fast chess. The gambit is rare in high-level games, though it was used over-the-board by grandmaster Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in a classical game against Andrey Esipenko during the 2022 Tata Steel Masters tournament in Wijk aan Zee. Since then, the opening has seen more frequent use in blitz chess, though there are multiple responses by Black that result in Black obtaining a good position.
The opening was played in 1966 in a game at the Lansing Chess Club. Bill Devin, playing with the white pieces, opened with the gambit in a game that resulted in a twenty-one move checkmate. By August 1971, the gambit had become known in Michigan as the Devin Gambit, and a reader of Chess Life & Review wrote to grandmaster and chess columnist Larry Evans asking if the gambit offered a free pawn or if White gained sufficient compensation for the g-pawn offered in the gambit. Evans evaluated the gambit as being unfavorable for White; per Evans, Black accepting the gambit by taking the pawn with the f6 knight would not to open up the position to White's benefit and would not lead to sufficient attacking chances for White.
The line was played by Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in a game against Andrey Esipenko during the 2022 Tata Steel Masters tournament in Wijk aan Zee. At the time, the use of the line was shocking to observers; the move has rarely been seen at high-level play.
Black has multiple responses available on move three that provide Black with comfortable play. However, the aggressive opening may offer practical chances for White, particularly in fast chess; following Mamedyarov's 2022 game against Espineko the Devin Gambit has become more frequently played in blitz chess.
Benjamin Bok, a grandmaster from the Netherlands, argues that 3 ...Bb4+ is the easiest continuation for Black to play. After this reply, White may choose to continue play with 4. Nd2, 4. Nc3, or 4. Bd2.
Against the first option, Bok recommends that Black capture the pawn on g4 on move four. Should White continue with their ordinary plan of pushing the e-pawn and play 5. e4, Bok recommends that Black respond with 5...f5, arguing that White lacks compensation for the sacrificed g-pawn. Against other knight move, which places the piece on c3, Bok recommends that Black respond by pushing the d-pawn with 4 ...d5, arguing that the resulting position will yield Black a slight advantage.
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Devin Gambit
The Devin Gambit is an offbeat chess opening that begins with the moves:
In this gambit, White offers a sacrifice of the g-pawn on g4, where it can be captured by Black's knight. In offering the gambit, White plans to play for central control by placing a pawn on e4.
The opening is tricky and may offer practical chances for White in fast chess. The gambit is rare in high-level games, though it was used over-the-board by grandmaster Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in a classical game against Andrey Esipenko during the 2022 Tata Steel Masters tournament in Wijk aan Zee. Since then, the opening has seen more frequent use in blitz chess, though there are multiple responses by Black that result in Black obtaining a good position.
The opening was played in 1966 in a game at the Lansing Chess Club. Bill Devin, playing with the white pieces, opened with the gambit in a game that resulted in a twenty-one move checkmate. By August 1971, the gambit had become known in Michigan as the Devin Gambit, and a reader of Chess Life & Review wrote to grandmaster and chess columnist Larry Evans asking if the gambit offered a free pawn or if White gained sufficient compensation for the g-pawn offered in the gambit. Evans evaluated the gambit as being unfavorable for White; per Evans, Black accepting the gambit by taking the pawn with the f6 knight would not to open up the position to White's benefit and would not lead to sufficient attacking chances for White.
The line was played by Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in a game against Andrey Esipenko during the 2022 Tata Steel Masters tournament in Wijk aan Zee. At the time, the use of the line was shocking to observers; the move has rarely been seen at high-level play.
Black has multiple responses available on move three that provide Black with comfortable play. However, the aggressive opening may offer practical chances for White, particularly in fast chess; following Mamedyarov's 2022 game against Espineko the Devin Gambit has become more frequently played in blitz chess.
Benjamin Bok, a grandmaster from the Netherlands, argues that 3 ...Bb4+ is the easiest continuation for Black to play. After this reply, White may choose to continue play with 4. Nd2, 4. Nc3, or 4. Bd2.
Against the first option, Bok recommends that Black capture the pawn on g4 on move four. Should White continue with their ordinary plan of pushing the e-pawn and play 5. e4, Bok recommends that Black respond with 5...f5, arguing that White lacks compensation for the sacrificed g-pawn. Against other knight move, which places the piece on c3, Bok recommends that Black respond by pushing the d-pawn with 4 ...d5, arguing that the resulting position will yield Black a slight advantage.