[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!} *