Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nf6/3. Nxe5/3...Nc6/4. Nxc6/4...dxc6/5. d3/5...Bc5/6. Be2/6...h5/7. c3/7...Ng4

Magical variation C42 Stafford gambit → 5. d3 → 7. c3 7...Ng4!? · Magical variation A sharp move. Both Black's knight and bishop are taking aim at f2. 8. d4 to cut off the bishop's vision of f2 is the best move. This (apparently) threatens to take on c5, and if 8...Bd6?! White is in time to play 9. h3. Black's knight has to retreat, else 9...Qh3, to pin the h pawn, fails to 10. g3! Qf6 and then White can pick up the free knight. After Black plays the disappointing concession 9...Nf6, their attack and initiative fizzles out. However, White should be prepared for the intermezzo 8...Qh4!?. Though the bishop is left hanging, White can't take it yet because of 9. dxc5? Qxf2+! 10. Kd2. There Black has another stunning sacrifice to offer: 11. Bf5!, where 11. exf5?? O-O-O+ wins the queen. White must start with 9. g3 Qf6 (threatens ...Qxf2+ again) where the two lines are 10. f3 h4!? or 10. Bf3 Be3!? (and the bishop still can't be taken in either of them!). Some consideration should be given to 8. Bxg4?. It trades off one of Black's attackers so should be a practical move, leading to an easier position. However Black has several traps in this line too and it is objectively a mistake, considerably cutting White's lead per engine. 8...Bxg4?! and the tempting line 9. f3!? is actually inaccurate. 9...Qh4+ 10. g3 Qf6 and the f-pawn is pinned to the mating square f2. 11. Rf1? (the main move in the Lichess database) Bh3! where 12. Rh1? Bg2!. 8...hxg4 is the most thematic move, where Black finally opens their h-file. If 9. O-O? Rxh2! 10. Kxh2?? Qh4+ leads to mate by force. If White postpones castling, 9. d5, the most accurate move is 9...Bd6 to prevent Bf4, but another line is 9...Bb6 intending c5 to prise open the diagonal and bring the bishop back into the game. 8. O-O?? is a mistake. One line is 8...Qh4 threatening ...Qxh2#. 9. h3?? is losing (one line is 9...Nxf2 10. Rxf2 Qxf2+ 11. Kh1 Bd6 12. Qf1 Qg3 13. Qg1 Bxh3 14. d4 Bg4 ---). To hold the position on requires accurate play from White: 9. Bxg4only hxg4 10. Bf4only Bd6 11. e5only Be7. History International master and Stafford gambit connoisseur Eric Rosen gives this line the soubriquet "magical", in honour of Jonathan Schrantz. Schrantz popularised it when he used it to defeat Lichess's level 8 Stockfish bot while dressed as a magician.Eric Rosen, 2021. How to CRUSH the Stafford Gambit (and other chess opening secrets). Youtube.Jonathan Schrantz, 2020. This IMPOSSIBLE Stafford Gambit Line is Pure Magic (Human vs Stockfish). Youtube. Theory table Stafford gambit accepted with 5. d3 8. d4 Bb6 9. h3 Qh3? 10. g3 Qf6 11. hxg4 +++ 8. ... Qh4 9. g3 Qf6 10. f3 ++ 8. ... ... 9. dxc5? Qxf2+ 10. Kd2 Bf5! 11. exf5?? O-O-O+ --- References See also