Chessville Opening Instruction - The Devin Gambit - by Clyde Nakamura - The Search for Dragons and Mythical Chess Openings

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The Devin Gambit
by Clyde Nakamura

The Search for Dragons
& Mythical Chess Openings

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g4

With 3.g4 White offers a pawn and if Black accepts the gambit pawn then White will have quick development, control of the center, a half open g-file and a chance for a kingside attack. This is the Devin Gambit.

In Eric Schiller's book "Unorthodox Chess Openings, Edition No.2" he analyzed the Devin Gambit line with 3...Nxg4 4.e4 Qh4 and concluded that the Devin Gambit was bad and not playable.

I agree with Eric Schiller that the 3...Nxg4 4.e4 Qh4 line is bad for White however I do not believe that the Devin Gambit is bad and not playable because Schiller did not look at 3...Nxg4 4.Nf3 which stops Black's Queen from moving to h4. If Black accepts the g-pawn sacrifice and castles kingside, Black will be facing a very strong kingside attack.

Let us now take a brief look at Eric Schiller’s analysis of the 3…Nxg4 4.e4 Qh4 line and also my combined analysis with Deep Fritz 8 of this same line.

Devin Gambit Analysis 3…Nxg4 4.e4 Qh4 Line by Eric Schiller
from his book “Unorthodox Chess Openings-Edition 2” page 222

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g4 {The idea behind this gambit is the same as in the Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit. White gives up a g-pawn to take over the center, and win some time. The question is, does the inclusion of c4 and ... make a big difference? I am not sure.} Nxg4 4. e4 Qh4 {is available} 5. Nh3 (5. Qf3 Nxf2 {!? is not as good as it looks, since after} 6. Qxf2 Qxe4+ {Black cannot capture at h1 because the Queen is trapped after Bg3! Play might continue} 7. Be2 d5 8. Nf3 dxc4 9. Nc3 {with a complicated position. White's pieces may prove more powerful than the 3 pawns.} Bb4) 5... Bb4+ 6. Bd2 (6. Nc3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Nf6 {and White's position is almost hopeless.}) 6... Bxd2+

Position after 6…Bxd2+

7.Qxd2 (7. Nxd2 {Nakamura: this was suggested by Deep Fritz 8 which is better than the move 7.Qxd2 as analyzed by Eric Schiller.} Nf6 {is clearly better for Black}

Below is my analysis with Deep Fritz 8 with the move 5.Qe2 after 3…Nxg4 4.e4 Qh4.

Devin Gambit Analysis 3…Nxg4 4.e4 Qh4 Line by Nakamura & Deep Fritz 8

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g4 Nxg4 4. e4 Qh4 (4... f5 5. Nc3 Qh4 6. Nh3 Be7 7. e5 O-O 8. c5 Nc6 9. Bg2 b6 10. cxb6 axb6 11. O-O f4 12. f3 Nh6 13. Nb5 Ba6 14. Nxc7 Bxf1 15. Bxf1 Rac8 {-+ 2.50}) 5. Qe2 (5. Qf3 Nc6 (5... Nxf2 {taking the pawn at f2 is bad because Black cannot really play Qxe4+ and capture the R at h1 without losing the Black Q.} 6. Qxf2 Qxe4+ 7. Be2 Qxh1 8. Bf3 Qxf3 9. Nxf3 {+- 3.22}) 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 Nd4 9. Bxd4 exd4 10. a3 Ne5 11. Qg2 dxc3 12. axb4 cxb2 13. Rb1 Qh6 14. Kd1 a5 15. bxa5 d6 16. Kc2 {-+ 3.29}) 5... Nf6 6. e5 (6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Bg2 Nc6 8. Qe3 e5 9. Nge2 Ng4 10. Qg3 Qxg3 11. hxg3 exd4 12. a3 Ba5 13. b4 Nxb4 14. axb4 Bxb4 15. Bd2 dxc3 16. Nxc3 {-+ 2.66}) 6... Ne4 7. Bg2 d5 8. exd6 Nxd6 9. Nf3 Qg4 10. Rg1 Nc6 11. Nc3 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Nd5 Kd7 14. Nc3 Qxc4 15.Qh5

Position after 15.Qh5

-/+ 1.60 White is down 3 pawns and
Black has a solid position. It looks grim for White.

Both Eric Schiller’s analysis & my combined analysis with Deep Fritz 8 did show that the move 4.e4 is not playable for White.

I also examined a different possible move for White after 3…Nxg4 which is the move 4.Bf4 bringing the White Bishop outside of the White pawn structure. It has the merit of guarding the f2 square if Black decided to play Qh4.

Devin Gambit Analysis 3…Nxg4 4.Bf4 line by Nakamura & Deep Fritz 8

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g4 Nxg4 4. Bf4 {a new line in the Devin Gambit, if 4...Qh4 5.Bg3 guards the f2 square. I am not sure if putting this B outside of White's pawn structure is any good.} Qf6 5. Bg3 (5. e3 Nxf2 6. Kxf2 g5 7. Nf3 gxf4 8. e4 d6 9. Nc3 Rg8 10. Rg1 Bg7 11. Qa4+ Bd7 12. Qb3 Qd8 13. Rd1 Nc6 14. Ne2 e5 15. Qxb7 Nxd4 16. Nexd4 exd4 17. Qd5 h6 18. e5 Be6 19. Qe4 dxe5 20. Qxe5 Kf8 21. Qxf4 c5 22. Bd3 Qf6 23. Qd6+ Qe7 24. Qf4 Rd8 25. b3 Qf6 26. Qc7 Rc8 27. Qd6+ Qe7 28. Qxe7+ Kxe7 29. Bh7 Kf6 {+/= 0.63}) 5... Bb4+ 6. Nc3 e5 7. Nf3 (7. d5 e4 8. Qd2 O-O 9. a3 e3 10. fxe3 Bxc3 11. bxc3 Re8 12. Qd4 d6 13. Bh3 Qg6 14. Bxg4 Bxg4 15. Nf3 Nd7 16. Nd2 Nc5 17. h3 Bf5 18. Rg1 f6 19. Bf2 Qh6 20. h4 {-+ 2.07 this line is not very good for White because of the 2 sets of doubled pawns and another 2 isolated pawns on both wings.}

7... Nc6 8.dxe5 Ngxe5 9.Nxe5 Nxe5 10.Qb3 Nc6 11.O-O-O Bxc3 12.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 13.bxc3 d6 14.c5

Position after 14.c5

= Deep Fritz 8, Nakamura: although White can equalize, he does not have any kind of advantage. No harmonious development or space advantage. Actually White is down a pawn and has 2 isolated pawns on the Queenside which is not good for the endgame.

The analysis shows that White does not have enough compensation for the g pawn sacrifice with the 4.Bf4 move. In this article we will investigate the games where White plays the 3...Nxg4 4.Nf3 line. I believe this is the only playable line after 3…Nxg4.

The game Mirosalv - Rostislay is the first known Devin Gambit game. White played the 4.e4 line but Black did not take advantage of the 4.e4 move.

Foreman Miroslav – Caha Rostislav 1995

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. g4 {the Devin Gambit} Nxg4 4. e4 Nf6 5. e5 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Bxd2+ 7. Nxd2 Ng8 {+/= 0.53 Junior 10, Black has spent 4 moves with the N and now it is back on its original square. White definitely had compensation for the pawn sac on g4.} 8. Qg4 g6 9. Bg2 d5 10. O-O-O dxc4 11. Nxc4 Nh6 12. Qf4 Nf5 13. Nf3 O-O {Castling king side is very dangerous for Black because of the open files and possible weak square on g7 & h6 after White takes out the Black N at f5.} 14. h4 Qd5 15. b3 Nc6 16. h5 Qd7 17. Ne3 Nxe3 18. fxe3 {Strengthening the pawn at d4.} Ne7 19. Ng5 Nd5 20. Bxd5 exd5 (20... Rb8 21. Nxh7 f5 22. hxg6 exd5 23. Nf6+ Rxf6 24. exf6 Qc6+ 25. Kb2 Qxf6 26. Rc1 Be6 27. Qxc7 Ra8 28. g7 Qxg7 29. Rcg1 Qxg1 30. Rxg1+ Kf8 31. Qg7+ Ke8 32. Qh8+ Kd7 33. Qxa8 {+- mate in 7 according to Junior 10}) 21. Nxh7 Qc6+ 22. Kb2 Bf5 23. Qh6 f6 24. hxg6 Qc2+ 25. Ka3 Bxg6 26. Rdg1 Kf7

Position after 26…Kf7

27. e6+

27.Rxg6 White missed this move which leads to a forced checkmate. 27...Qxg6 28.e6+ Kxe6 29.Qxg6 c5 30.Nxf8+ Rxf8 31.dxc5 Rf7 32.Rh8 Ke7 33.Qg3 Rg7 34.Qxg7+ Ke6 35.Qg4+ f5 36.Qg8+ Ke5 37.Qe8+ Kf6 38.Rh6+ Kg7 39.Rd6 f4 40.Rg6+ Kh7 41.Qg8#

27...Kxe6 28.Nxf8+ Rxf8 29.Qxf8 b5 30.Rc1 b4+ 31.Qxb4 1-0

Evilone (2025)–Xypher (2494) Internet Chess Club game 3min 10sec incr. 11/16/97

1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.g4 Nxg4 Preventing Qh4.

4.Nf3 Bb4+ 5.Nc3 O-O 6.Rg1 Putting pressure on the g7 pawn.

6...Nf6 7.Qd3 Kh8

7... d5 8. Bh6 Nh5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Ne5 Qd6 11. Qd2 f6 12. Nd3 Qxh2 13. Rxg7+ Nxg7 14. Nxb4 c6 15. O-O-O Re8 16. e4 Bg4 17. Re1 Bf3 18. Bd3 Nd7 {=/+ 0.92}

8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 d6 10.O-O-O a5 11.Ne4 d5 12.Nxf6 gxf6

Position after 12…gxf6

13. Ne5 {[White's threat is 14.Ng6+ fxg6 15. Qxg6 threatening mate with Qxh6+ or Qg7+. If Black plays 13...Rg8 Nxf7+ and mate. Xypher rather than continue the game resigned.]} 1-0

In the game Evilone – MrsLovett, I missed 2 moves either which should have won the game.

Evilone (2046)- MrsLovett (2775) Internet Chess Club Game 5 min. 11/16/97

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g4 Nxg4 4. Nf3 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Rg1 f5 7. h3 Nf6 8. Bg5 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 d6 10. e3 Qe8 11. Bh6 Rf7 12. Be2 b6 13. Qc2 Bd7 14. O-O-O (14.Bf4 Kh8 15. a4 h6 16. Kf1 {-/+ 0.96 Junior 10}) 14... Ba4 15. Qd3 Bxd1 16. Qxd1 a5 17. Bd3 a4 18. a3 Qc8 19. Qe2 Ra5 20. Bc2 Nc6 21. Nd2 Qa8 22. f3 Nb8 23. e4 fxe4 24. fxe4 Qb7 25. e5 dxe5 26. dxe5 Ne8 27. Qd3 Kf8 (27... Rf5 28. Qd8 Rf8 29. Bxg7 Qh1 30. Bxh7+ Kf7 31. Rxh1 Nxg7 32. Qxc7+ Ke8 33. Bg6+ Rf7 34. Bxf7+ Kf8 35. Bxe6 Nxe6 36. Rf1+ Ke8 37. Qf7+ Kd8 38. Qxe6 Nd7 39. Nf3 Rc5 40. Rd1 Rc7 41. Qg8+ Ke7 42. Ng5 Ra7 43. e6 b5 44. Qf7+ Kd8 45. Rxd7+ Rxd7 46. Qxd7#) 28. Qxh7 gxh6 29. Qxh6+ (29. Rg8+ Ke7 30. Rxe8+ Kxe8 31. Qg8+ Ke7 32. Bg6 Qh1+ 33. Kc2 c6 34. Qxb8 Rd5 35. cxd5 Qxd5 36. Qb7+ Qd7 37. Qxd7+ Kxd7 38. Bxf7 {White is up +- by a score of 8.59.}) 29... Ke7 30. Bg6 Rf8 31. Qh7+ (31. Ne4 Nc6 32. Nd6 Qb8 33. Nxe8 Rf3 34. Nf6 Nxe5 35. Qg7+ Kd6 36. Rd1+ Kc5 37. Qe7+ Kc6 38. Be4+ Rd5 39. cxd5+ Kb7 40. dxe6+ Ka6 41. Qb4 b5 42. Bxf3 Qb6 43. Qe4 Nxf3 44. Qa8+ Qa7 45. Qxf3 c6 46. Qxc6+ Ka5 47. e7 Qb8 48. e8=Q Qf4+ 49. Kc2 {+- mate in 5 moves according to Junior 10}) 31... Kd8 32. Ne4 Qc6 33. Rd1+ Kc8 34. Qe7 Rg8 35. Bf7 Rg7 36. Bxe6+ Kb7 {-+ 5.45 Junior 10} 0-1

Evilone (2056) – Flambe (2621) Internet Chess Club Game 5 min. 12/5/97

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g4 {The Devin Gambit} Nxg4 4. Nf3 {If 4.e4 Qh4 and Black has the attack.} Bb4+ 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Rg1 f5 7. h3 Nf6 8.Bh6 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Rf7 10. Ne5 Re7 11. e3 Ne4 12. Bd3 Nf6 {If 12...Nxc3 White has 13.Qh5 and for winning a pawn Black's N is out of play and cannot guard the kingside.} 13. Qf3 Kh8 {If 13...d6 14.Qg2 dxe6 15.Bxg7 and Black has some problems guarding his K.} 14. Bg5 d6 15. Ng6+ hxg6 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Rxg6 Rg7 18. Rh6+ {White's attack is still very dangerous since he can activate the other rook at a1 at some point in the gam by playing Ke2 & Rg1.} Rh7 {The attack is still raging! Black's 3 minor pieces are still at their original squares! If 18...Kg8 19.Qh5 wins.} 19. Rxh7+ Kxh7 20. Qh5+ Kg7 21. Kd2 Kf8 22. Rg1 Qe8 23. Qh7 Qf7

Position after 23…Qf7

The game is practically over. Black drops at least his Q after white plays Qh8+ and Rg7.

24.Qh8+ Ke7 25.Rg7 Bd7 26.Rxf7+ Kxf7 27.Be2 c6 28.Bh5+ Ke7 29.Bg6 d5 30.h4

Black cannot stop White's h pawn from queening.

30...dxc4 31.h5 a5 32.h6 Na6 33.Qxa8 Nc7 34.Qg8 c5 35.h7 cxd4 36.exd4 b6 37.h8=Q Kd6 38.Qxf6 Kc6 39.Bxf5 Kb7 40.Be4+ Ka6 41.Qb8 a4 42.Qxc7 Bb5 43.Qfe7 Ka5 44.Qb4+ Ka6 45. b7# 1-0

Again I missed the winning line in the game listed below. White definitely had compensation for the g pawn sacrifice and good chances to win this game.

Evilone (2001) – Wyrm (2714) Internet Chess Club Game 5 min. 5/10/98

1. c4 Nf6 2. d4 e6 3. g4 Nxg4 4. Nf3 Qf6 5. Rg1 h5 6. e4 Qg6 7. Bd3 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 c5 9. d5 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 Qf6 11. Bd2 g6 12. h3 Ne5 13. Nxe5 Qxe5 14. f4 Qd6 {+/- 0.98} 15. Qf3 Qa6 16. f5 gxf5 17. exf5 e5 18. f6 d6 19. Rg7 Nd7 20. Ke2 Qa4 21. Rag1 Rf8 22. Rh7 (22. Rg8 {yes I missed this strong move} b5 23. Bh6 bxc4 24. Bf5 Qxa2+ 25. Ke3 Qb2 26. Bxd7+ Kxd7 27. Rxf8 Kc7 28. Qxh5 Qxc3+ 29. Kf2 Qc2+ 30. Kg3 Qd3+ 31. Kh2 Qxd5 32. Rxf7+ Kb6 33. Re7 {+- 6.86}) 22... Kd8 23.Rgg7 Re8 24. Rxf7 (24. Qe4 Rf8 25. Rxf7 Rxf7 26. Rxf7 Qxa2 27. Qg6 e4 28. Qxe4 a6 29. Rf8+ Kc7 30. Qe7 {+- 9.92}) 24... e4 25. Qxh5 exd3+ 26. Kf3 (26. Kf1 Re2 27. Qxe2 dxe2+ 28. Kxe2) 26... Qd1+ 0-1

Evilone (2152) – PostModernist (2580) Internet Chess Club Game 5 min. 12/20/98

1. c4 e6 2. d4 Nf6 3. g4 {the Devin Gambit by transposition of moves, ususally 1.d4 is played instead of 1.c4} Nxg4 4. Nf3 {this prevents the Black Q from the h4 square where it could cause problems for White.} d6 5. Rg1 {Attacking the N & putting pressure on the g7 square, Black is temporarily prevented from playing Be7.} Nf6 6. Nc3 (6. Be3 {Junior 10 recommended this move. I am not sure why this is better than Nc3 followed by e4.}) 6... Nc6 7. e4 Bd7 8. Be3 h5 9. h3 {To prevent Ng4. I wanted to keep my B at e3.} e5 10. d5 Ne7 11. Qd2 Ng6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Kb1 O-O 14. Nh2 Qc8 15. f4 exf4 16. Bxf4 Nxf4 {? an error because now Black's king becomes vulnerable to a king side attack.}17. Qxf4 Bxh3 {? another error, White will get a R lift with tempo and double Rooks on the g file.} 18. Bxh3 Qxh3 [diagram]

Position after 18…Qxh3

19. Rg3 Qd7 (19... Qxh2 20. Rxg7+ Kxg7 21.Qxh2 {+- 3.03 the Black Q drops}) 20. Rdg1 g6 21. Qh6 Qe8 (21... Bd8 22. Rxg6+ fxg6 23. Rxg6+ Kf7 24. Rg7+ Ke8 25. Rxd7 Nxd7 26. Qxh5+ Rf7 27. Nf3 (27. a3 {to provide an escape square for the K} Bf6 28. Ng4 Ke7 29. Nh6 Rff8 30. Qh3 Rae8 31. Ne2 Be5 32. Qe3 Kd8 33. Qxa7 Nc5 34. Nf5 Nxe4 35. Nfd4 Nc5 36. Ne6+ Nxe6 37. dxe6 Ke7 38. Qxb7 Rb8 39. Qxc7+ Kxe6 40. b4 Ra8 41. c5 Rxa3 42. cxd6 Rf1+ 43. Kc2 Rff3 44. Qc4+ Kxd6 45. Nd4 Rfc3+ 46. Qxc3 Rxc3+ 47. Kxc3 Kd5 {=}) 27... Bf6 28. Nb5 Ke7 29. Nxc7 Rh8 30. Qg4 Rg7 31. Qe6+ Kd8 32. Qxd6 Rg2 33. Ne6+ Ke8 {=}) 22. Nf3 Ng4 23. Rxg4 Bf6 24. Ng5 Bxg5 25. Rxg5 Qxe4+ {a desperado move to delay the game} (25... Qa4 {a strange move recommended by Junior 10} 26. Rxg6+ fxg6 27. Qxg6+ Kh8 28. Qxh5# ) 26. Nxe4 f6 27. Qxg6+ Kh8 28. Qh6# 1-0

Evilone (1999) – Computerman (2506) Internet Chess Club Game 15 min. 12/26/98

1. c4 e6 2. d4 Bb4+ 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g4 {a transposition into the Devin Gambit}Nxg4 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Rg1 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 O-O 8. Bh6 Ne8 9. Qd2 f6 10. e4 d5 11. Bd3 Nc6 12. O-O-O dxe4 13. Bxe4 Ne7 14. Nh4 c6 15. Bxg7 Nxg7 16. Qh6 Ng6 17. Nxg6 f5 (17... Qa5 18. Rd3 Bd7 19. Ne5 Qa3+ 20. Kb1 Rf7 21. Nxf7 Kxf7 22. Rxg7+ Ke8 23. Qxh7 Qf8 24. Rxd7 f5 25. Bxf5 Qf6 26. Be4 Kf8 27. Rf3 Ke8 28. Rxf6 e5 29. Bg6#) 18. Ne5 (18. Nf4 Qf6 19. Qxf6 Rxf6 20. Bf3 Kh8 {+- 2.30 Junior 10}) 18...Qf6 19. Qxf6 Rxf6 20. Bc2 Kf8 21. d5 cxd5 22. cxd5 exd5 23. Rxd5 Be6 24. Nd7+ Bxd7 25. Rxd7 Rf7 26. Rgd1 Re8 27. Bb3 Rxd7 28. Rxd7 Re7 29. Rd8+ Re8 30. Rd7 Re7 31. Rd8+ Re8 32. Rd7 {drawn by repetition of position} 1/2-1/2

Fritz 8 – Shredder 7 6/12/04 Devin Gambit

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g4 Nxg4 4. Nf3 {this is the best move since it prevents Qh4 which could cause White some problems} d5 5. Nbd2 Nc6 6. e3 Nf6 7. Rg1 Bd7 8. a3 a5 9. b3 Qe7 10. Bb2 g6 11. Ne5 O-O-O 12. b4 Bg7 13. Nxd7 Qxd7 14. b5 Ne7 15. Qa4 b6 16. c5 (16. O-O-O Kb8 17. Kb1 h6 18. Bd3 Qd6 19. Nf3 Nd7 20. cxd5 Qxd5 21. Rg3 Qd6 22. e4 c6 23. bxc6 Qxc6 24. Qb3 Qd6 25. Ka1 Rhe8 26. h4 Rc8 27. h5 g5 28. Ba6 Rcd8 29. Bb5 Rg8 30. Rb1 Ka7 31. Rc1 Rc8 32. Rgg1 Rgd8 33. Rxc8 Rxc8 34. e5 Qc7 35. Nd2 Nd5 36. Ne4 Bf8 37. Rc1 Qb7 38. Rxc8 Qxc8 39. Qf3 Nf4 40. Kb1 f5 41. exf6 Qb7 42. Qe3 Nxh5 43. f3 {= Deep Fritz 8}) 16... Kb8 17. Bd3 Rc8 18. Rc1 Nf5 19. Kf1 {the problem with Black's game is that his castled position on the Queenside is very weak and White is setup to blow open Black's position with piece sacrifices. Black has all of his minor pieces on the wrong side of the board. Notice also that White has the majority of his pieces on the Queenside ready to pounce on Black's king.} 19...Ka7 20.Bc3 Qe7

Position after 20…Qe7

21.Bxa5 bxa5 22.Qxa5+ Kb8 23.Bxf5 Ne8 24.Rb1 exf5 25.Rb4 Bxd4 26.exd4 Qe2+

A desperado move to delay the game since White threatens mate in two with Ra4.

27.Kxe2 Nd6 28.b6 Kb7 29.bxc7+ Kc6 30.Qa6+ Kd7 31.Qxd6+ Ke8 32.Rb8 f6 33.Rxc8+ Kf7 34.Qd7# 1-0

Clyde Nakamura (2100) – Guest 6485 Internet Chess Club Game 5 min. 8/20/05

1. c4 e6 2. d4 Nf6 3. g4 Nxg4 4. Nf3 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Rg1 g6 {Black has weak dark squares at g7 and h6. White can exploit this weakness.} 7. Bh6 Rg8 8. Qc2 {to prevent Ne4} c5 9. O-O-O {White is close to full development and Black is still undeveloped and has piece coordination problems. } Nc6 10. Nb5 (10. a3 cxd4 11. axb4 dxc3 12. bxc3 d5 13. Bg5 Bd7 14. b5 Na5 15. cxd5 exd5 16. Rxd5 h6 17. Re5+ Be6 18. Bh3 hxg5 19. Bxe6 Rg7 20. Nxg5 Qd6 21. Nxf7 Qb6 22. Rd1 Kf8 23. Qb1 Qxf2 24. Qb4+ Kg8 25. Qxa5 Rxf7 26. Bxf7+ Kxf7 27. Qc7+ Kg8 28. Rd8+ Rxd8 29. Qxd8+ Kh7 30. Re7+ Kh6 31. Rf7 Qe1+ 32. Kb2 Qxe2+ 33. Ka3 Qf1 34. Qxf6 {+- 8.44 Junior 10}) 10... a6 11. Nd6+ Ke7 12. Ne4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 d6 14. Qf4 Ke8 15. a3 Ba5 16. dxc5 Bc7 17. Bg5 Qd7 18. cxd6 Bd8 19. e4 Bxg5 (19... f6 20. Bxf6 Rf8 21. e5 Bxf6 22. exf6 Qd8 23. Qd2 Rxf6 24. Ng5 e5 25. Qd5 Bf5 26. f4 e4 27. Nxh7 Rf8 28. d7+ Qxd7 29. Qxd7+ Bxd7 30. Nxf8 Bf5 31. Nxg6 Be6 32. Bg2 Rd8 33. Bxe4 Rxd1+ 34. Rxd1 Na5 35. f5 Bc8 36. Re1 Kf7 {+- 11.24 Junior 10}) 20. Nxg5 e5 21. Qf6 Nd4 22. Bh3 {+- 12.70 Junior 10} 1-0

Evilone (1905) – Enesco Playchess.com Game 5 min. 2/27/2006

1. c4 e6 2. d4 Nf6 3. g4 {The Devin Gambit} Nxg4 4. Nf3 {4.e4 right away is not good because of 4...Qh4 attacking my f2 pawn.} b6 {A different version of the Devin Gambit.} 5. Rg1 {Played to put pressure on the g7 pawn. The Black B at f8 cannot move right away because the pawn at g7 drops.} Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb7 7. Bg5 Be7 8. Qd3 {I wanted to prepare the e4 pawn push. } h6 9. Bh4 Rg8 10. O-O-O d6 11. e4 Na6 12. a3 {to prevent the Black move Nb4 which will harrass my Q.} c6 13. Qe3 {This now puts the Black Q in line with my R on the pawn push to e5.} Rc8 {Fritz8 says that this R move was a mistake by Black. White now has an edge of +/- 1.38.} 14. e5 Nd7 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. exd6 Qxd6 17. Ne5 Nxe5 {? Fritz8 recommended 17...Rd8 here. This move gives White the open d file.} 18. dxe5 Qc5 19. Qf4 {There is no sense to trade the Queens and let Black off the hook. White has a strong attack.} Nc7 20. Ne4 Qe7 21. Nd6+ Kf8 22. Nxb7 b5 23. Nd6 Rd8 24. Bg2 {+- 4.31 another pawn will fall, so Black resigned.} 1-0

GodofThunder (1950) – Phanto2 (1978) Playchess.com Game 5 min. 12/17/06

1. c4 e6 2. d4 Nf6 3. g4 {the Devin Gambit} Nxg4 4. Nf3 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 c5 6. Rg1 Nf6 7. Rxg7 b6 8. Qd3 Bb7 9. Ne5 {attacking the f7 pawn} d6 (9... cxd4 10. Qxd4 Nc6 11. Qe3 Bf8 12. Rg1 Nb4 13. Qd2 Qc7 14. Qf4 Be7 15. Nb5 Qd8 16. Ng4 Nxg4 17. Nc7+ Qxc7 18. Qxc7 Bc6 19. Rxg4 Nc2+ 20. Kd1 Nxa1 21. Bg2 Bxg2 22. Rxg2 {+- 4.97}) 10. Nxf7 Qe7 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. Nb5 Rf8

Position after 12…Rf8

12... Bb4+ 13. Kd1 Ne4 14. Nfxd6+ Bxd6 15. Rxe7+ Bxe7 16. Nc7+ Kf7 17. Qf3+ Bf6 18. Qh5+ Ke7 19. f3 Nc5 20. Kc2 Nbd7 21. Nxa8 Bxa8 22. Bg5 h6 23. Bxf6+ Nxf6 24. Qg6 {+- 8.29 Deep Fritz 8}

13.Nbxd6+ Kd7 14.Ne5+ Kd8 15.Rxe7 1-0

CONCLUSION

The Devin Gambit cannot be underestimated because taking the pawn sacrifice at g4 can give Black all kinds of problems. Those who believe that White’s game is unsound should look at the Devin Gambit games displayed in this article.

White’s best move for compensation after 3…Nxg4 is 4.Nf3 which gives White excellent winning chances. If Black accepts the gambit g pawn and castles kingside then White will have a very strong kingside attack. The other line 4.e4 is not good for White. I also examined 4.Bf4 which does not give White any real compensation for the g pawn sacrifice. Maintaining a strong center is the key to playing this gambit correctly. With a strong White center, Black will have problems developing his pieces properly. One possible move that I had not considered for the White side of the Devin Gambit is the early a3 move. With a3 White can prevent the Black Bishop pin on the White Knight developed at c3. This Black Bishop pin on the White Knight at c3 undermines the stability of the White center.

The theory of this gambit is still evolving and is still very much a work in progress. Hopefully other chess players will take up the challenge and play the Devin Gambit. May the force be with you my padawans (students.)

REFERENCES

Gambit Chess Openings, by Eric Schiller, page 654

Unorthodox Chess Openings, Edition 2 by Eric Schiller, page 222

Yahoo Unorthodox Chess Openings Newsgroups Messages Numbers:
502, 700, 3813, 3814, 3815,3817, 3819, 3820, 3826, 3829, 3831, 3899, 3904, 3909, 3910, 5492, 6160

Yahoo Unorthodox Chess Openings Newsgroups Files:
Devin Gambit.zip, devin.pgn (6 games)

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See more of Clyde's work with
Unorthodox Chess Openings in

The Search for Dragons and Mythical Chess Openings

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