[Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Kilkenny Gambit"] [Black "?"] [Result "*"] [ECO "A45"] [Annotator "Martin"] [PlyCount "17"] [EventDate "2021.01.09"] [SourceVersionDate "2019.03.01"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. g4 $5 {This is known as the Kilkenny Gambit and the name has been adopted by Simon Williams following a game played in Ireland. It asks Black the immediate question and could be a great surprise weapon for Blitz chess! Indeed Carlsen has played it in Blitz as Black a move down i.e. 1.Nf3 g5!? and always seems to win with it but he is the World Champion and he can more or less get away with playing anything!} Nxg4 3. e4 {Due to the attack on the knight on g4 Black only has 3 main ways to respond.} d5 (3... d6 {This may give the opening more of a Pirc feel to it if Black plays g6 or a Black Lion if e5 is played. One way for White to play is} 4. Bc4 (4. Be2 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. h4 {is another way to play, so many good options!}) 4... Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. f3 c6 7. Be3 Bg7 8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O b5 10. Bd3 Bb7 11. Bh6 Na6 12. Bxg7 Kxg7 13. h4 Qa5 14. h5 Ng8 15. hxg6 fxg6 16. e5 c5 17. Qh2 h6 18. Qg3 g5 19. Qxg5+ $1 { 1-0 Fischer v Buchhauser 1987 If} hxg5 20. Rh7#) (3... Nf6 $6 {Although obvious, this is not the most testing response as it turns the opening into an Alekhine Defence except White has an extra move and no g-pawn but an open g-file which can be fully exploited! One way to play the gambit for White is} 4. e5 Nd5 5. c4 Nb6 6. Nc3 e6 7. c5 Nd5 8. Nxd5 exd5 9. Nh3 {eyeing up the g5 square so Black defends it.} Be7 10. Qf3 $1 {to ask Black to make a decision about defending the d-pawn.} c6 $2 {Black has played right into White's hands and has vindicated the gambit play.} 11. Rg1 Rg8 12. Bd3 g6 13. Ng5 Bxg5 14. Bxg5 Qa5+ {What else?} 15. Ke2 Qc7 16. Qf6 d6 17. exd6 Qd7 18. Kd2 {clearing the e-file.} Qe6 19. Qd8# {Fischer v Daikeler 1983. So easy!}) 4. Nc3 {4.Be2 is often played to renew the attack on the knight} c6 5. Bf4 $5 (5. exd5 { maybe stronger first but White is trying not to give Black the option of developing the knight to c6 hence setting a trap!}) 5... g6 {Black is looking for a White square blockade} (5... e5) (5... dxe4) 6. exd5 cxd5 $2 {Can you spot White's winning move?} (6... Bg7) 7. Bxb8 $1 {So many times in other variations this move is missed!} Rxb8 8. Bb5+ {wins the knight on g4!} Bd7 9. Qxg4 {Lewis v Clayton 1985.} *