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    Chess Openings

    King's Gambit Accepted: Traditional Variation

    1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7 · ECO C38

    King's Gambit Accepted: Traditional Variation position after 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7. White: bishop on c4, pawn on e4, knight on f3, pawn on a2, pawn on b2, pawn on c2, pawn on d2, pawn on g2, pawn on h2, rook on a1, knight on b1, bishop on c1, queen on d1, king on e1, rook on h1. Black: rook on a8, knight on b8, bishop on c8, queen on d8, king on e8, knight on g8, rook on h8, pawn on a7, pawn on b7, pawn on c7, pawn on d7, pawn on f7, bishop on g7, pawn on h7, pawn on g5, pawn on f4.

    King's Gambit Accepted: Traditional Variation is a chess opening that arises after 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7. It is classified C38 in the ECO system, and the position after these moves has white to move. The King's Gambit Accepted sees Black take the offered f-pawn. White gives up a pawn and a measure of king safety to seize the centre with d4 and open the f-file for a direct attack. It dominated nineteenth-century chess and remains one of the sharpest openings still played.

    Strategic character

    Extremely sharp. White's compensation is real but temporary, so the attack must be pressed. Black's task is to return the pawn at the right moment and reach an endgame where the structural damage to White's kingside tells.

    Who should play it

    Romantic attacking players who accept objective risk for maximum practical pressure.

    This line is a variation within the King's Gambit Accepted family. The strategic ideas above describe the family as a whole; this particular line reaches them by the move order 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7.

    Variations continuing from this position

    Each of these is a named opening reached by playing on from 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7. Open any of them to load the position on the board.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the King's Gambit Accepted: Traditional Variation?
    The King's Gambit Accepted: Traditional Variation is a chess opening that arises after 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7. It is classified C38 in the ECO system. The King's Gambit Accepted sees Black take the offered f-pawn. White gives up a pawn and a measure of king safety to seize the centre with d4 and open the f-file for a direct attack. It dominated nineteenth-century chess and remains one of the sharpest openings still played.
    What are the moves of the King's Gambit Accepted: Traditional Variation?
    1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7. After these moves it is white to move.
    Is the King's Gambit Accepted: Traditional Variation good for beginners?
    Romantic attacking players who accept objective risk for maximum practical pressure.
    What variations come from the King's Gambit Accepted: Traditional Variation?
    Named continuations include King's Gambit Accepted: Hanstein Gambit, King's Gambit Accepted: Philidor Gambit, King's Gambit Accepted: Mayet Gambit. There are 3 named variations reachable from this position in total.

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