Jaenisch Gambit
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| Moves | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ECO | C63 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent | Ruy Lopez | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Synonym | Schliemann Defence | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Jaenisch Gambit, also known as the Schliemann Defence, is a chess opening that begins with the moves:
It is a sharp variation of the Ruy Lopez where Black frequently sacrifices one or two pawns. The most common replies are 4.Nc3 and 4.d3. The Jaenisch Gambit is considered to be a good practical weapon, but it is positionally risky, especially against a strong and prepared opponent. It is considered one of Black's most combative lines against the Ruy Lopez.[1]
The variation was originated by Carl Jaenisch, who analysed it in the December 1847 issue of Le Palamède.[2] Although later named for German lawyer Adolph Schliemann (1817–1872) in the Handbuch des Schachspiels,[3] the line Schliemann actually advocated for in the 1860s was a gambit variation of the Cordel Defence (3...Bc5 4.c3 f5).[4]
The opening is assigned code C63 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings.[5]
History
The Ruy Lopez did not gain widespread popularity until the mid-19th century, when Finnish-Russian theoretician Carl Jaenisch published a detailed article on 1.e4 e5 in the December 1847 issue of Le Palamède,[2] where the Jaenisch Gambit was one of the lines discussed.
In the 1970s, Jozef Boey employed the Jaenisch Gambit against the Ruy Lopez in his games in the ICCF Correspondence Chess World Championship final.[6][7] He co-authored a survey on the Jaenisch Gambit in the New In Chess Yearbook, volume 116.[8]
Teimour Radjabov is currently the only top player who regularly employs the line, with mixed results.
4.Nc3
4.Nc3 is a more aggressive move than 4.d3. However, White needs needs to learn a lot of theory in order to get the advantage.
4...fxe4 5.Nxe4 d5
4...fxe4 5.Nxe4 d5 leads to the most heavily analysed variations.[9] The main line continues 6.Nxe5 dxe4 7.Nxc6 Qg5 8.Qe2 Nf6 9.f4 Qxf4 10.Ne5+ c6 11.d4 Qh4+ 12.g3 Qh3, which was played in the game Timman vs Speelman, Candidates semi-final in London in 1989[10]
4...fxe4 5.Nxe4 Nf6
4...fxe4 5.Nxe4 Nf6 leads to a pawn sacrifice by Black after 6.Nxf6 Qxf6 7.Qe2 Be7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 (or 8...dxc6) 9.Nxe5.[11]
4.d3
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 | 8 | ||||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
4.d3 simply defends the e-pawn while avoiding the complications of the 4.Nc3 line, and has surpassed 4.Nc3 in popularity in recent years.. The main continuation is 4...fxe4 5.dxe4 Nf6. White then usually plays 6.0-0, preventing the pin (if 6.Nc3 is played) or check 6...Bb4. Black has a major choice between 6...Bc5, an aggressive continuation, and 6...d6, which simply prevents White from capturing the e-pawn.
4...fxe4 5.dxe4 Nf6 6.0-0 Bc5
After 6...Bc5, White has a choice between 7.Bxc6, 7.Qd3, 7.Nc3, 7.Qe2, 7.Bg5, and 7.Bc4.
After 7.Bxc6, a line that has been played many times is 7...bxc6 8.Nxe5 0-0 9.Nc3 d6, followed by 10.Na4 or 10.Nd3. White gains a pawn, but Black gains the bishop pair and activity in return. It seems to be the most critical option for White.[1]
4...fxe4 5.dxe4 Nf6 6.0-0 d6
After 6...d6, the best regarded response for White is 7.Bc4, where Black has some difficulties in development and usually ends up castling queenside. 7.Nc3 is also popular and most natural, but not as challenging for Black.[1]
The main continuation after 7.Bc4 is 7...Bg4, preventing 8.Ng5. 7...Na5 and 7...h6 are also possible; 7...Be7?? is a blunder.[1]
Black's fourth move alternatives
- 4...Nf6 is the main alternative to 4...fxe4. Transposition to the main line is frequent after 5.0-0 fxe4 5.dxe4.
4.d4
Though 5.d4 is the main move against the Deferred Jaenisch Gambit (3...a6 4.Ba4 f5), 4.d4 is not as effective against the standard Jaenisch Gambit. After the usual 4...fxe4, play may continue 5.Nxe5 Nxe5 6.dxe5 and then 6...c6, kicking White's bishop and preparing for a potential 7...Qa5+.[1] Another possibility for White is 5.Bxc6.
References
Citations
- ^ a b c d e Doknjas 2020.
- ^ a b Jaenisch 1847, pp. 538–542.
- ^ von Bilguer 1874, p. 230, note (12).
- ^ Schliemann 1867.
- ^ Matanović 1981–1996.
- ^ "ICCF World Championship 07 Final". ICCF. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
- ^ "ICCF World Championship 10 Final". ICCF. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
- ^ Rooze & Boey 2015.
- ^ Emms 1999, p. 23.
- ^ "Timman vs Speelman, Candidates semi-final, London, 1989". Retrieved 20 March 2026.
- ^ Emms 1999, p. 21.
Bibliography
- von Bilguer, Paul Rudolf (1874). von Heydebrand und der Lasa, Tassilo (ed.). Handbuch des Schachspiels [Chess Handbook] (in German) (5th ed.). Leipzig: Verlag von Veit & Comp – via Google Books.
- Doknjas, Joshua (2020). Opening Repertoire: The Ruy Lopez. Everyman Chess. ISBN 9781781945414.
- Emms, John (1999). Easy Guide to the Ruy Lopez. Everyman Chess. ISBN 978-1857442205.
- Flear, Glenn (2001). Offbeat Spanish: Meeting the Spanish without 3...a6. Everyman Chess. ISBN 1-85744-242-3.
- Florian, Tibor (1970). The Schliemann Variation of the Ruy Lopez. The Chess Player.
- Jaenisch, Carl (December 1847). "Le Début Royal". Le Palamède (in French). Vol. 7. pp. 530–60. Retrieved 19 March 2025 – via Google Books.
- Matanović, Aleksandar, ed. (1981–1996). Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (2nd ed.). Beograd: Šahovski informator. ISBN 0713437162. OCLC 12935304.
- Rooze, Jan; Boey, Jozef (2015). "Inexhaustible Creativity in the Jaenisch". New In Chess Yearbook (PDF). Vol. 116. Interchess BV. pp. 97–104. ISBN 978-90-5691-588-9. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
- Schliemann, Adolph (1867). "Zur spanischen Partie" [On the Spanish Game]. Deutsche Schachzeitung (in German). Vol. 22. pp. 133–35 – via Google Books.
- Tay, Junior (2018). The Schliemann Defence: Move by Move. Everyman Chess. ISBN 978-1781943267.