[Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Stunning Stafford in Reverse!"] [Black "?"] [Result "*"] [ECO "C42"] [Annotator "Martin"] [PlyCount "15"] [SourceVersionDate "2019.03.01"] {Having covered the trappy Stafford Gambit in Bulletin No.45, https://www. dorsetchess.co.uk/stafford-gambit/ we cannot ignore playing it in reverse as White with an extra move! This is also known as the Boden-Kieseritzky Gambit and is even stronger!} 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. Nf3 $5 Nxe4 4. Nc3 Nxc3 5. dxc3 { There are now far less options for Black here than playing against the Stafford as White. The 2 most natural moves, 5...Nc6? and 5...d6? both lose whilst the e-pawn push (which is available in the Stafford) is a disaster.} Nc6 $2 (5... d6 $2 6. Ng5 $1 Be6 {In the Stafford Gambit as Black, it is recommended to capture the bishop with the knight (which is also good) but White can go one better here!} 7. Bxe6 fxe6 8. Qf3 $1 {There is a double threat of mate on f7 and the pawn on b7. White is completely winning!}) (5... e4 $2 {still allows} 6. Ng5 $1 {winning. If} Qe7 7. Bxf7+ Kd8 8. Ne6+ {is cute! }) ({The better but odd looking} 5... f6 {may be best but is an unnatural move to play. After} 6. Nh4 $1 {threatening 7.Qh5. Black has to be careful.} g6 ({ Black does not have time for} 6... c6 $2 7. Qh5+ g6 ({If} 7... Ke7 8. Nf5# $1) 8. Nxg6) (6... Nc6 $2 7. Qh5+ g6 8. Nxg6 hxg6 9. Qxg6+ Ke7 10. Qf7+ Kd6 11. Bg5 $1 {winning!}) 7. f4 Nc6 ({or} 7... Qe7 8. f5 {as in the mainline, and Black will need to play very accurately to challenge for any advantage going.}) (7... exf4 8. O-O Nc6 (8... d5) 9. Bxf4 d6 10. Qd5 Qe7 11. Rad1 {when Black is stuck for decent moves}) 8. f5 {and White has the typical compensation. If} d5 9. fxg6 $1 dxc4 10. Qh5 {and White has excellent compensation for the piece.}) 6. Ng5 $1 Bc5 (6... Qe7 7. Bxf7+ Kd8 8. Ne6+ {is an amusing finish!}) 7. Bxf7+ ({ but not} 7. Nxf7 $2 Qh4 {and the hunter has become the hunted!}) 7... Kf8 8. Bd5 {winning!} *