Elephant Gambit (Queen's Pawn Counter-gambit) - C40

Unleash the Beast:
 Mastering the Elephant Gambit 

Dive into the wild world of the Elephant Gambit, a daring chess opening that can surprise your opponents and lead to exciting tactical battles.

 This post curates free resources to help you master both sides of the gambit, from articles and video lessons to annotated games. Let's trample the center and unleash your inner chess beast!

 Elephant Gambit Wikipedia Page

The Elephant Gambit
 (also called the Queen's Pawn Countergambit or Englund Counterattack) 

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5!?

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Elephant Gambit Chess Articles

• The Ultimate Elephant Gambit Opening Guide for Attacking Players - Chessable Blog Guide: This guide offers an overview of the Elephant Gambit, exploring its variations, key themes, and illustrative games featuring Grandmasters.
  
  
• Elephant Gambit | The Refutation - Chessmood Article by GM Avetik Grigoryan (Pretty In-depth) Dive deep into the refutation of the Elephant Gambit. This article delves into the history of the opening, explores key theoretical lines, and presents a clear approach to gaining a significant advantage against the gambit. GM Grigoryan emphasizes logical moves for easy memorization.

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Elephant Gambit LiChess Studies

New to Lichess studies? These interactive tools are fantastic resources for exploring the Elephant Gambit's intricacies move-by-move. They allow you to test your understanding and solidify your knowledge:

• The Elephant Gambit -  4 Chapter Study (Top of Page): This basic 4-chapter study provides a solid introduction, showcasing a few key lines in detail.
  
  
• Elephant Gambit | Wasp Variation - 18 Chapter Interactive Study: Delve deeper with this interactive study featuring 18 chapters exploring various lines within the Wasp Variation. Test yourself with built-in exercises!
  
  
• Elephant Gambit - (Queen Pawn Counter Gambit) - 12 Chapter Study - This comprehensive 12-chapter study offers a thorough exploration of different opening variations. It dives into refutation strategies with 2 lines and even includes illustrative games by Grandmasters!

Deepen Your Chess Knowledge with LiChess Studies!

The interactive Elephant Gambit studies showcased here are just a taste of what LiChess studies offer. Take your chess learning to the next level! This page provides a comprehensive overview of what studies are, how they work, and how you can leverage them to improve your chess: Study chess, the lichess way

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Tactics and Puzzles

Sharpen your tactical vision and exploit hidden opportunities in the Elephant Gambit with these resources:

LiChess Opening Tactics

• Lichess Elephant Gambit Tactics  - 2693 Tactics - Test your skills against a massive database of Elephant Gambit puzzles, specifically tailored to this opening.

WTHarvey.com

•  King's Knight Opening (ECO C40) - 25 Puzzles - Since the Elephant Gambit falls under the King's Knight Opening (ECO C40), these puzzles provide a broader range of tactical exercises relevant to the opening's themes.

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Online Databases

Delve into a wealth of Elephant Gambit games played by chess players of various levels on these online databases:

365Chess.com

C40: QP counter-gambit (elephant gambit) 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 - 1075 Games

Chessgames.com  (Collections)

• 98_C40_Elephant Gambit - 42 Games
• Elephant Gambit 3.d4 black wins - 3 Games
• Elephant Gambit Miniatures - 7 Games
• Elephant Gambit Games - 43 games

ChessTempo.com

Elephant Gambit, General (C40) - 1600 games

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Elephant Gambit Video Lessons

Here's a curated selection of video lessons to enhance your understanding of the Elephant Gambit, both for Black and White:

Watch Out for The Elephant Gambit! | Chess Openings Explained - 57 Min - St. Louis Chess Club - Lecture - Nick Risko teaches all about the Elephant Gambit, a rare opening starting with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5!?

Tal vs Lutikov, 1964 | Elephant Gambit - GM Yasser Seirawan - 49 Min - St.Louis Chess Club - Immerse yourself in a classic Elephant Gambit game featuring the legendary Mikhail Tal, known for his aggressive and tactical style. GM Yasser Seirawan provides insightful analysis, allowing you to witness Tal's mastery firsthand.

The Elephant Gambit | Queen's Pawn Countergambit | Chess Openings | Gambits | IM Andrey Ostrovskiy - 14 Min - Opening Guide - Gain a quick overview of the Elephant Gambit's essential ideas and strategic themes

IM Miodrag Perunovic:

 Learn how to wield the Elephant Gambit as Black with these beginner-friendly video lessons. Part 1 dives into the main variations, anti-Elephant Gambit strategies, and model games, while Part 2 explores various responses to the gambit and showcases illustrative games by grandmasters.

• Chess For Beginners: The Mighty Elephant Gambit for Black!! Part 1 - 25 Min
• Chess For Beginners: The Mighty Elephant Gambit for Black!! Part 2 - 25 min 

Tricky Elephant Gambit Repertoire - 6 Video playlist- GJ_Chess - Delve deeper with a series of videos exploring various tricky lines and strategic nuances within the Elephant Gambit repertoire, expanding your Black opening options.

Wasp Variation

Surprisingly Tricky, Extremely Fun - The Wasp Variation of the Elephant Gambit! - 12 Min - NM Nelson Lopez: Explore the exciting and dynamic possibilities of the Wasp Variation, a popular line within the Elephant Gambit.

Refuting the Elephant Gambit Videos

Destroy The Elephant Gambit in Two Easy Ways!! - 8 Min - IM Miodrag Perunovic -Discover two effective strategies to neutralize the Elephant Gambit's threat and gain an advantage as White.

Elephant Gambit | The Refutation - Daily Lesson with a Grandmaster #75 - 30 Min - Chess Mood - The Elephant Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5?!) is a very aggressive opening for Black, but White can refute it in different ways. Various refutations of the Elephant Gambit, providing a deeper understanding of how to handle it as White.

The Elephant Gambit (And how to beat it every time.) - 16 Min - Hanging Pawns

Elephant Gambit Game Videos (w/Analysis)

The Elephant Gambit - 31 Video Playlist - Kingscrusher

Learn the Elephant Gambit Under the Trunk of a Grandmaster - 58 Min - GM Nakamura 
An Amazing Elephant Gambit Miniature | Max Lange vs Richard Schurig: Berlin 1855 - 3 Min
Elephant Gambit: Masseg vs Freidl - Austria 1987 - 3 Min

Johnathan Schrantz

• Win with the MOST COMMON Elephant Gambit Trap - 7 Min
• Trick Everyone with the ELEPHANT GAMBIT - 13 Min
• Scare Everyone with the ELEPHANT GAMBIT - 19 Min
• I Tried Playing the ELEPHANT GAMBIT in Rapid Chess - 19 Min
• Beating an IM in 9 Moves with the ELEPHANT GAMBIT - 2 Min
• Holy Gambit Grail #10: Elephant Gambit - 13 Min
• Always Accept this Gambit - 12 Min
• Can a GRANDMASTER Refute My Elephant Gambit? - 9 Min
• This Opening is an INFINITE RATING GLITCH - 8 Min

“It’s always better to sacrifice your opponent’s men.”
– Savielly Tartakower

Englund Gambit for White & Black: A Complete Guide (A40)

  

Englund Gambit
Explore the Possibilities

The Englund Gambit (1. d4 e5?!)

A daring chess opening that throws traditional positional play out the window.

 Black offers a pawn for rapid development and tactical possibilities, creating an imbalanced but exciting game.

 While not considered sound opening theory for White to accept, the Englund Gambit can be a powerful weapon in the right hands.

Englund Gambit Wikipedia Page

 ( An Interesting , if suspect opening against guys who like to play the London.)

Main Variations

• 2.1 Blackburne–Hartlaub Gambit (1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 d6 )
• 2.2 Soller Gambit
• 2.3 Felbecker Gambit
• 2.4 Zilbermints Gambit
• 2.5 Englund Gambit main line

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Books (Free)

Beat Bad & Pesky Openings - FREE Chessable Course - ( 9 Trainable lines on Defeating the Englund - Chapter 8)

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Englund Gambit Articles

Dealing with the Englund - Chessbase Article - Matthew Lunn analyses and explains how to counter a dubious gambit

Englund Gambit Full Guide - 365Chess.com - Very nice opening Guide w/ Links to Games

Exploring the Englund Gambit Against 1.d4 - GM Igor Smirnov - Nice Article w/ Lessons on several gambits, 3 Deeply Annotated games and a 12 Min Embedded Video.

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LiChess Studies

Englund Gambit Traps - 7 Chapter Study

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Games Databases

Analyze real-life Englund Gambit games from masters to see how theory translates into practical play.

365Chess.com

A40 Queen's pawn, Charlick (Englund) gambit - 1000 Games 

Chessgames.com

Englund Gambit-White wins - 7 Games 

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Englund Gambit Video Lessons

WIN IN 8 MOVES: The Englund Gambit - 35 Min - GothamChess - A comprehensive guide on the Englund Gambit. The video includes theoretical explanations, subscriber games, and practical tips for playing the Englund Gambit successfully.

The Extremely Dodgy ENGLUND GAMBIT 24 Min Kingcrusher - in-depth analysis of the Englund Gambit. It explores various lines and traps associated with the gambit, highlighting its potential for quick victories as well as its inherent dangers, key moves, and strategic ideas.
    The Englund Gambit | Mainline and Traps | Chess Openings | IM Andrey Ostrovskiy - 10 Min How To Play: The Englund Gambit | ChessKid - 5 Min - Learn how to play and win with the Englund Gambit. FunMasterMike even has a few tricks up his sleeves on how to stop this opening. (Beginner) (New - 5/29/24)

 Chess Tips: Chessbrah Aman's Undefeated Opening for Black! Scary Englund Gambit!! -42 Min IM Miodrag Perunovic - a comprehensive guide on how to play the gambit, including various lines and responses to White’s moves. (Video below)

Zilbermints Gambit

• CHESS GAMBITS : COUNTER TO THE ZILBERMINTS GAMBIT - 10 Min
  
  
• Play Chess #10: Englund Gambit Complex: Zilbermints Gambit. 2100 Elo - 4 Min
  
  
• Blackburne–Hartlaub Gambit - 15 Min - IM Greg Shahade and hermansteiner on ICC featuring the Blackburne Gambit in the Phildor Defense/Blackburne-Hartlaub Gambit

Englund Gambit Traps

• Chess Opening: Englund Gambit 1.d4 e5 | Traps and Ideas - 18 Min -  IM Asaf Givon explains how to play this opening for both White and Black sides. He explains how to set traps as Black and how to avoid them as White. Therefore, this video is like a comprehensive repertoire for Englund Gambit.
  
  
• Englund Gambit Opening Trap That Doesn't Work! 95k made this chess opening mistake against d4 - 7 Min  NM Lopez - The exact opening moves and ideas that both white and black players need to be aware of in the Englund gambit in the queen's pawn opening. There are many opening tricks and traps, but I will show you the proper chess tactics and strategies to win in this opening.
  
  
• Traps in the Englund Gambit (1.d4 e5?!) - 10 Min
  
  
• Englund Gambit Traps, Moves & Ideas | Best Checkmate Strategy - 6 Min

Playing Against the Englund

• Destroy your Opponent when He plays Englund Gambit -20 Min - how you win against Black's Englund Gambit and win very fast out of this chess opening by following suggested chess moves, tricks, strategy and traps.
  
  
• Avoid the Tricky Englund Gambit - 10 Min
  
  

Game Videos w/ Analysis

This Englund Gambit Queen Sacrifice is TOO STRONG - 21 Min IM Rosen

Master Class | Ending The Englund Gambit | Chess Speedrun | Grandmaster Naroditsky - 30 Min

I can't stop winning with the Englund Gambit - 8 Min GM Aman Hambleton

Is the Englund Gambit a Meme Opening? - 40 Min GM Nakamura

TESTING AMAN'S UNDEFEATED OPENING | GM Eric Hansen - 11 Min

UNDEFEATED OPENING? | GM Aman Hambleton - 24 Min

Stafford Gambit (C42): A Complete Resource Guide ♟️

 

 Stafford Gambit Chess Resources

Looking for a sharp, aggressive opening to surprise your opponent?

 The Stafford Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nc6)
might be perfect for you!

 This gambit offers traps and tactical possibilities, but requires precise play to maintain an edge.

The Stafford Gambit is a fascinating chess opening that arises from the
  Petrov Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nc6).

  Within this popular opening, White sacrifices a pawn early on (3.Nxe5) for quick development and attacking chances. The Stafford Gambit offers rich tactical possibilities for players who understand its nuances. Learn how to play both sides of the gambit with this curated list of high-quality resources!

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BOOKS (Free)

700 Opening Traps - 59 Page PDF - Free Book from Bill Walls Site on Opening Traps.

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Stafford Gambit Articles

The Stafford Gambit a Complete Guide - Long Chess.com Article By IM Rosen

Bulliton no45 -  The Stafford Gambit -  Very Solid Article showing the 7 traps, refutation, how to play against it etc.

Stafford Gambit – How to Play as White and Black - Chessable Blog Opening Guide (Very well done) General Over view, mainlines, traps, and play for Black

Stafford Gambit | The Refutation - Chessmood Article - GM Grigoryan - See move-by-move how to crush it, along with all the ideas and the traps to avoid!

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Stafford Gambit Lichess Studies

New to Lichess studies? These interactive tools allow you to explore chess concepts and variations move-by-move, perfect for testing your understanding and deepening your knowledge.

• Stafford Gambit Trap Training - interactive training exercise for 11 variations
  
  
• Stafford Gambit Refutation -  interactive Study with 10 Chapters
  
  
• Understanding the Stafford Gambit - 5 Chapter Study (550+ Hearts)
  
  
• Stafford Gambit - 23 Chapter Study (In Depth) (780+ hearts)

Listudy Site 

Stafford Gambit -  
  Several Videos on The Stafford
  6 Lichess Studies On The Gambit
   - Allows you to practice against with it against Stockfish

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Stafford Gambit Videos

Stafford Gambit Traps  - 17 Video Playlist  - Chess Traps


IM Rosen

• A Beginner Lesson in the Stafford Gambit - 57 Min - cover the basic opening strategy and the common tricks and traps that make the Stafford Gambit so much fun.
  
  
• How to Play the Stafford Gambit Declined - 25 Min IM Rosen - I share my round 7 game from the Dubai Chess Club Rapid Tournament. The game featured an instructive battle emerging from a Stafford Gambit Declined.
  
  
• How Dubov Beat Hou Yifan with the Stafford Gambit - 21 Min IM  Rosen - The game featured a Stafford Gambit Declined -- the first siting of its kind at top grandmaster level!
  
  
• The Trappiest Opening in Chess? - 11Min IM Rosen - show all of the traps in the Stafford Gambit that I could think of in the moment.
  
  

ChessKid (Beginner)

• Is the Stafford Gambit the TRICKIEST Chess Opening? - 8 Min
  
  
• MORE Tricks & Traps in the Stafford Gambit! - 6 Min
  
  

Why We Play the Stafford Gambit - 24 Min GM Nakamura - Hikaru hosts a Stafford Gambit Viewer tourney and shows us how to play it with white and black.

On Eric Rosen's Beloved Stafford Gambit - 22 Min GM Nakamura - Eric Rosen uses the Stafford Gambit against Hikaru, and Hikaru uses it against him.

Learn to Play NEW Stafford Gambit Trap! More Stafford Theory - 9 min - go over a recent opening novelty discovered by Eric Rosen as he pulls off a checkmate against a 2445 ELO in only 15 moves!

Stafford Gambit Accepted - 17 Min Video - Chess Website - discusses strategies for both sides, focusing on the accepted line where White captures the knight on c6.

WIN FAST with Stafford Gambit : All Traps included | Complete guide - 18 Min - ProChessIndia - ProChess Head Coach, Sarthak, analyses all the variations of Stafford Gambit. (New - 5/29/24)

Rufuting The Stafford

• (Eric Rosen's) Stafford Gambit Refuted?? | Deadly TRAPS & TRICKS - 20 Min - show you the right way to refute the Stafford Gambit in the Petrov's Defense
  
  
• Snuffing the Stafford Gambit | Busting the Gambits with GM Naro - 27 Min - GM Naroditsky - Detailed analysis of the Stafford Gambit, I show how White can accept and keep the sacrificed pawn, rebuffing all of Black's attempts to create counterplay and keeping Black's possibility for tricks to a minimum.
  
  
• Refuting unsound Gambits | Stafford Gambit - 12 Min IM Andras Toth - how to play correctly against gambits which I consider to be unsound.

Game Videos w/ Analysis

• Stafford Gambit  - 52 Video Playlist  - IM Eric Rosen
• Stafford Gambit - 11 Video Playlist - Johnathan Schrantz
  
  

STAFFORD GAMBIT Chess Tournament! - 47 Min - IM Rosen -  I host a thematic Stafford Gambit Blitz Chess tournament in which every game starts as a Stafford Gambit Accepted. (12 Games)

An Easy Solution to the Stafford Gambit | Climbing the Rating Ladder vs. 1821 - 53 Min - IM John Bartholomew 

"There is no substitute for playing gambits.
You must play them, win with them, and lose with them." - Ken Parr