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

Stafford gambit with 5. d3 C42 Stafford gambit 6. Be2 6. Be2 helps to control the g4 square. In addition, it adds a second defender to the queen, foiling the trap of ...Nxe4 dxe4 Bxf2+ to remove the guard of the queen. Now 6...Ng4 leads to a trade of queens: 6...Ng4 7. Bxg4 Qh4 (7...Bxg4? 8. Qxg4) threatens Qxf2#, then 8. g3 Qxg4 9. Qxg4 Bxg4 and White is ahead, Black's threats mostly defused. 6...h5 is the most thematic response, where Black continues to fight for the g4 square. Black won't be able to keep their knight there, but they are optimistic that after ...Ng4 Bxg4 hxg4, they will be able to use the open h-file to their advantage, especially if White castles short. White's best and usual reply is 7. c3, preparing d4 to kick Black's bishop and take over the centre, whereupon Black will have a hard time keeping up the attack. After 7. c3 the main line goes 7...Ng4 8. d4 Qh4 9. g3 Qf6, and White has a significant advantage. However, White needs to be careful still. If 10. Bxg4?, then 10...Bxg4 11. Qd3 (11. Qd2? Qf3! and Black is already winning) O-O-O, and Black gets a dangerous attack and plenty of development, along with a safe king, giving more than enough compensation for the pawn. Instead, the way to continue is 10. f3! (10. Bf3 also works) h4!? 11. fxg4 hxg3 12. Be3 (not 12. hxg3?? Rxh1+ winning the rook or 12. dxc5?? Qf2+ with a crushing attack. 12. Rf1 gxh2 isn't good for White either) Rxh2 13. Rg1! (Rf1 and Rxh2 are alright according to computer analysis, but 13. Rg1 is the most straightforward way to maintain advantage) Be7 14. Nd2! Qh4?! 15. Nf3 Qh3 16. Kd2! If White does manage to weather the attack, they should be completely winning, but this is harder than most people think and even many titled players have struggled with the long-term attack that Black gets. Theory table Stafford gambit with 5. d3 6...h5 7. c3! Ng4 8. d4 Bb6 9. h3 Nf6 +++ 6. ... ... 7. ... Bb6 8. a4 Be6 9. a5 Bc5 10. d4 Be7 11. Nd2 ++ 6. ... ... 7. O-O? Ng4 8. h3 Qd6 9. hxg4?? hxg4 10. e5 Qxe5 11. Bf4 -- 6. ... ... 7. ... ... 8. Bxg4 hxg4 9. g3? Qf6 10. Be3 Bxe3 11. fxe3 Qxb2 -- 6. ... ... 7. ... ... 8. h3 Qh4? 9. d4! Bb6 10. c3 c5 +++ References Petrov Defence