You might want to have a look at the Urusov gambit: 1.e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3.d4!?
2. Bc4 is an interesting move and sidesteps a lot of theory.
Suprise Weapon ~ 1700 level
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Shirov recently beat Alekseev with a King's Gambit, so I guess it's playable ;).
If you really want to surprise an opponent, it may be fun to look at the Latvian Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5). I've played it in OTB Blitz games a couple of years ago. Obviously it's dubious, and probably even bad for black but at 1700 lvl (which is not too far from my level), it should definitely be playable.
I also like a Vienna Gambit (is that how it's called?) 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4
Good luck! I really enjoy gambits, but unfortunately it doesn't really fit my playing style.
Thanks for all the tips!
[quote="ReasonableDoubt"]Vienna Game: If black simply knows to play d5! after f4, he has no problems. [/quote]
lol I fell for that once
yeah I already play the marshall.
The Ponziani looks good!
I might try the latvian gambit
@ all the Kings gambit people, I actually enjoy playing AGAINST the kings gambit :D
Thanks for all the advice!
ReasonableDoubt wrote:
King's gambit isn't a surprise weapon at all, it's too overbooked. I used to use it in tournaments but stopped after people equalized way too easily. If you want something purely for surprise, then I'd recommend the Ponziani - obscure and easy to get a lot of quick wins with against B players. Black can equalize with accurate play, but if you want something not many people know it's great. Other things I'd recommend for shock value are the Max Lange attack and the Center Game. Things I would NOT recommend:
Danish Gambit: Everyone knows this opening and equalizes right off the bat with d5 and Nf6.
King's Gambit: Too overbooked. Any e5 player will be well prepared.
Evans Gambit: Same as King's Gambit.
Halloween Gambit: Most players are instantly drawn to this one as it immediately sacs a knight and it appears to be obscure, but in reality almost all players know it by now.
Scotch Gambit: Another very overbooked opening that leads to nothing more than equality.
Vienna Game: If black simply knows to play d5! after f4, he has no problems.
The key thing that sets the openings I listed apart from the rest is that my selections haven't really been used in high level play since the 1930s or so, making them very obscure. That being said, none of them are refuted; black just equalizes relatively easily with optimal play. Other things I'd recommend for fast wins are the Marshall Attack in the Ruy Lopez and the Frankenstein-Dracula variation in the Vienna. That being said, you really need to know your stuff to play either of them but they're not surprise weapons - they're real weapons and powerful ones if you know how to use them!
A whole lot of blather, signifying a lack of knowledge.
Everybody's ready for the Halloween gambit, but the Ponziani is a shock to black?
chesslive's database shows about 6500 games progressing from the takeoff point of the Ponziani. 180 or so in the Halloween.
RHP's amateur database shows 2200 Ponzis. Another 180 or so Halloweens.
You can make the argument that the amateur database is "closer," I guess. But you'd also want to take note of the fact that black wins the majority of games in the Ponziani, whereas the much, much rarer Halloween gambit is actually a statistical winner for white.
To enter the Frank-Drac, both player need to cooperate in following at LEAST 6 moves deep. It's not a weapon, it's a mutual agreement. If black has a clue, he deviates on move 3 and moves into 3...Nc6 lines that favor black.
And the f4 Vienna is actually an excellent practical weapon with a ton of pitfalls for black, as long as white is savvy enough to capture the e-pawn instead of the d on move 4.
Your post was long and thoroughly prepared, but left the original poster knowing a lot more wrong information than when he originally asked.
Hello. I am a ~1700 rated person (USCF). I play 1. e4 as white, and LOVE gambits. does anyone have a legit suprise opening that not many people know? (for white and black.)