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White has:

     3.exd5 Bd6

Black’s basic strategy is to play both d6 and f5 then play for a Kingside attack after castling Kingside.  The white bishop is reduced to the power of a pawn guarding the d5 pawn.  It has no activity and no good squares to go to.

     3.Bxd5 Nf6

This is the other main line where Black plans to eliminate the bishop at d5 with an exchange of knight for bishop.  After 4.Nc3 Nxd5 5.Nxd5 Bd6 and Black can castle kingside then play f5 and start a kingside attack if White castles kingside.
 

The move 3…d5 in the Khan Gambit

The move d5 is a common move played against the setup of a pawn at e4 and Bishop at c4.  We see two examples of an early d5 in the two diagrammed positions, taken from the Lewis Counter Gambit and the Danish Gambit:

The Khan Gambit, Elephant Gambit and Halasz Gambit are all very much related and are actually mirror images of each other.  See the three positions below taken from actual games:

All three opening positions have the same strategy and tactics.  Its main strategy is to set up for the Kingside attack. If you can play one of these gambit positions, then you can play all three gambit positions.

In the Khan Gambit and the Elephant Gambit-Jonathan Rogers Line, Black can set up for a kingside attack by playing the move e4 to chase the white knight away from the f3 square. In the Halasz Gambit position, White has a similar tactic of playing e5 to chase the Black Knight away from the f6 square to start a Kingside attack.  In all three gambit positions the Q swings onto the h file to assist in the Kingside attack.  The side playing the Khan Gambit or Elephant Gambit – Jonathan Rogers Line can also play a6 and b5 to gain space on the Queenside.  In the Halasz Gambit the pawn moves a3 and b4 can also be played to gain space on the Queenside.  This will cramp your opponents game and shut down counter play on the Queenside.

Index of Lines and Games

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 d5

     3. exd5 Bd6 Castling Kingside
               Duckbreath- Evilone
               MoonDancers – Evilone
               Menek-DarthMusashi
               Softic Izet - Evilone

     3. exd5 Bd6 Castling Queenside
               Gabe Kahane – Evilone
               Simex – Evilone

     3. exd5 Nf6
               J.F. Lens – Dr . G. Halasz
               Hiarcs 8 – Shredder 6.02

     3. exd5 f5
               Shabura1 - Evilone
               Brunhilde – Evilone

     3. exd5 Nf6 4.Nc3 c6 (Reversed Goring Gambit)
               Shredder 6.02 – Fritz 7

     3. exd5 Nf6 4.Nc3 c6 5.dxc6 Bc5 6.cxb7 Bxb7 (Reversed Danish Gambit)
               Extreme Chess – Clyde Nakamura

     3. Bxd5 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nxd5 5.Nxd5
               MChess Pro – Clyde Nakamura
               Asuka Nakamura – Clyde Nakamura
               Eugene Martinovsky – Clyde Nakamura
               Extreme Chess – Clyde Nakamura
               Dr. Octopuss – DarthMusashi|
               Xlils EP – DarthMusashi
               Frodes – DarthMusashi

     3.Bxd5 Nf6 4.Nc3 c6
               GoodCompany – Blueboy

     3. Bxd5 Nf6 4.Bb3
               Dragon 311- Fortress161

     3. Bb3 (Counter Gambit Line)
               Analysis Nakamura & Deep Fritz 8

     Transpositions into the Khan Gambit (from the Calabrese Counter Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 f5)
               Lenhof – Wilhelm Steinitz
               Reichert – Emil Diemer

3. exd5 Bd6 Castling Kingside

Duckbreath (2442) – Evilone (2097)   Internet Chess Club Game  15 min.  3/20/04

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d5 {Khan Gambit} 3. exd5 Bd6 4. Ne2 f5 5. O-O Nf6 6. d4 e4 7. Nf4 {this N is headed for e6 where it will cause Black some problems} O-O 8. Ne6 Bxe6 {forced other wise I have to drop the R for N exchange} 9. dxe6 Kh8 {forced since the move e7+ would win the Black Q} 10. Nc3 a6 11. a3 Nc6 {This N has to come out so that Black can achieve full development.} 12. g3 Qe8 {White has weak light squares on f3, g2 & h3. The question is how to take advantage of this weakness.} 13. d5 {? this is a mistake by White. now the N can go to e5 and threaten Nf3+. it looks good because it guards the pawn at e6} (13. Ne2 Rd8 14. c3 Ne7 15. Bb3 c5 16. f3 b5 {= according to Deep Fritz 8}) 13... Ne5 14. Bb3 Nf3+ 15. Kg2 Qh5 16. h3 Ng4 17. a4 (17. hxg4 Qh2#) (17. Ne2 Nge5 18. Nf4 Qg5 19. Be3 {=}) 17... Rf6 18. Ne2 Rg6 19. Rh1 (19. Nf4 Bxf4 20. Bxf4 Nh4+ 21. Kh1 Nf3 22. Kg2 {=}) 19... Nxf2 20. Kxf2 Bxg3+ 21. Nxg3 Qh4 22. Kf1 Qxg3 23. Qe2 f4 (23... Nh2+ 24. Rxh2 (24. Qxh2 Qf3+ 25. Ke1 Rg2 26. Qxg2 Qxg2 27. Rf1 Qxh3 {+/= 0.57 Deep Fritz 8}) 24... Qg1#) 24. Qf2 Qg5 25. c4 Rf8 {over protecting the f4 pawn} 26. Bd1 Ne5 27. Qg1 Qf5 28. Qc5 Nd3 29. Qe7 Kg8 30. Bd2 (30. Qh4 e3 31. e7 Re8 32. Rg1 Nxc1 33. Rxc1 Qd3+ 34. Be2 Rxg1+ 35. Kxg1 Qxe2 36. Qxf4 {= Deep Fritz 8}) 30... e3 31. Bb4 Nxb4 32. Qxb4 f3 33. Ke1 Qf4 (33... Rg1+ {I missed this nice bit of tactics} 34. Rxg1 f2+ 35. Kf1 fxg1=Q+ 36. Kxg1 Qf1+ 37. Kh2 Rf2+ 38. Kg3 Rg2+ 39. Kh4 Qf6+ 40. Kh5 Qh6#) 34. Bxf3 Qxf3 35. e7 Qf2+ 36. Kd1 e2+ 37. Kc1 Qe3+ 38. Kb1 Re8 39. a5 Rxe7 40. Ka2 b6 41. Rae1 bxa5 42. Qxa5 Rb6 43. Qc3 Qc5 44. Rhg1 g6 45. Kb1 Re3 46. Qd2 Rbb3 47. Rg4 Rbd3 48. Qc1 Qa5 49. Rgg1 Rd2 50. d6 cxd6 51. Rh1 Rb3 52. Rhf1 [diagram]

Moondancers (2001) – Evilone (1846)    Playchess.com    Game 3 min.   6/26/05

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d5 {Khan Gambit} 3. exd5 Bd6 4. Nc3 f5 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. d3 O-O 7. Bg5 a6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. O-O b5 10. Bb3 Nd7 {over protecting the e5 pawn} 11. d4 e4 12. Ne5 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Qxe5 14. g3 {this was forced, now White has weak light squares at f3, g2 & h3} Bd7 {Black has reached full development and the 2 Rooks on the back rank are connected and Black is ready for  a full scale Kingside attack.} 15. f4 exf3 16. Qxf3 f4 17. Rae1 Qd4+ 18. Kh1 fxg3 19. Qe3 Qh4 (19... Rxf1+ 20. Kg2 Rf2+ 21. Kg1 gxh2+ 22. Kxf2 Rf8+ 23. Kg2 h1=Q+ 24. Kxh1 Qh4+ 25. Kg2 (25. Qh3 Qxh3+ 26. Kg1 Qh2#) 25... Qh2# {I missed this set of nifty tactics according to Deep Fritz 8.}) 20. Rxf8+ Rxf8 21. Qg1 Rf2 22. Re2 g2+ 23. Qxg2 Rxg2 24. Rxg2 Qe1+ 25. Rg1 Qf2 26. Rg2 Qf3 27. Kg1 Bh3 (27... Bc5+ 28. Rf2 Qxf2+ 29. Kh1 Qf1# {Black missed this easy checkmate.}) 28. Rf2 Qg4+ 29. Kh1 h5 30. Ne2 Qe4+ 31. Kg1 Kh8 {-+ mate in 7 according to Deep Fritz 8} 0-1
 

Menek (1984) – DarthMusashi (1887)    Playchess.com    Game 5 min.   7/12/06

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d5 {Khan Gambit} 3. exd5 Bd6 4. Nc3 f5 5. d3 Nf6 6. Bg5 O-O 7. Nge2 a6 8. a3 b5 9. Ba2 Qe8 10. Bxf6 Rxf6 11. O-O {Black is setting up for a Kingside attack. A deeper examination of the position reveals that the White B & N are actually out of play. The White B has only one function and that is to guard the pawn at d5.} Rh6 12. Ng3 Qe7 13. Qf3 Qh4 14. h3 f4 15. Nge4 Nd7 16. Nxd6 cxd6 17. Ne4 Nf6 18. Kh2 Bg4 19. Nxf6+ {forced otherwise the White Q drops } gxf6 20. Qe4 f5 21. Qxe5 {a desperado move to delay the game.} (21. Qe1 f3 22. Qe3 f4 23. Qe4 Bxh3 24. Kg1 Bf5 {White cannot stop mate in one.}) 21... dxe5 22. d6+ Kg7 23. Bd5 Bxh3 24. Kg1 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Qg4# 0-1
 

Softic Izet (1908) – Evilone (2002)    Playchess.com    Game 5 min.    4/3/06

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d5 {Khan Gambit} 3. exd5 Bd6 4. Qf3 f5 5. d3 {to prevent e4} a6 6. a3 Nf6 7. h3 O-O 8. Ne2 Qe8 9. O-O e4 10. dxe4 fxe4 11. Qe3 b5 12. Ba2 Qe7 (12... Qe5 13. Qg3 Qe8 14. Qg5 h6 15. Qe3 Qe5 16. f4 exf3 17. Qxe5 Bxe5 18. Rxf3 c5 19. Nbc3 g5 20. Be3 Nbd7 21. Raf1 Bb7 {+/= 0.88 Deep Fritz 8}) 13. c3 Bb7 14. Qd2 Nbd7 15. Nd4 Rae8 16. Nf5 Qe5 17. Nxd6 cxd6 {White has a coordination problem. Four pieces on the Queenside are still not developed. Black's pieces are much better coordinated for a Kingside attack.} 18. Rd1 {I am not sure why White is over protecting the d pawn when his main concern should be to free the Queenside minor pieces.} Nc5 19. Qd4 Qf5 20. Be3 Nfd7 21. b4 Nd3 22. Nd2 Rf7 23. Nf1 Qg6 24. Ng3 h5 25. h4 Bc8 {I needed to move this B to a better square. On b7 it had no future.} 26. Rd2 Nxf2! [diagram]

3.exd5 Bd6 Castling Queenside

I actually have not seen many games with Queenside castling in the Khan Gambit. In any case it is not really recommended that White castles Queenside because Black can launch an attack by first playing a6 and then b5, which gains space for Black.

Gabe Kahane (2030) – Clyde Nakamura (2170)    Hawaii International #4    1997

1. 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d5 {[Clyde: 2...d5 the Khan Gambit. It is not listed in ECO, BCO or MCO. It is a new gambit that my student Gary Khan and I discovered.]} 3. exd5 {[Clyde: If White plays 3.Bxd5 then 3...Nf6 4. Nc3 Nxd5 exchanges my N for White's good B.]} Bd6 {[Clyde: 3...Bd6 blockades the position. Now White's dangerous white squared B is now effectively made passive.]} 4. d3 {[Clyde: NM Kari Heinola and I have agreed that White should have challenged the center right away with d4. Now I have the chance to play the f5 move to control more center squares and play for a kingside attack if White should castle kingside.]} f5 5. Nc3 a6 6. Nf3 {[Clyde: Here I was quite surprised. I expected 6.a4 to stop Black from playing b5.]} b5 7. Bb3 Nf6 8. Bg5 O-O 9. Qd2 {[Clyde: Black had intended to castle queenside. This is why he did not play a4.]} Nbd7 10. O-O-O h6 11. h4 {-/+[Clyde: 11.Bxf6 was not good because I play 11...Qxf6 and I have a solid postion. In a few more moves I would have reached the full development of my pieces. Best was 11.Bh4 because if I play 11...g5 then White has 12.Nxg5 hxg5 13.Qxg5+ Kf7 14.Qxf5 winning 3 pawns for the B.]} (11. Bh4 {+/= is the best option White has}) 11... b4 12. Ne2 hxg5 13. hxg5 Ng4 14. Ng3 Nc5 15. Bc4 e4 16. d4 Nd7 {[Clyde: I had also considered 16...Na4, 16...Nb7 and 16...exf3]} 17. Nh4 (17. Rdf1 {-+}) 17... Nb6 {!  puts the final touch} 18. Bb3 e3 (18... Nxf2 {!?} 19. Qxf2 Qxg5+ 20. Kb1 Bxg3 (20... Qxg3? 21. Qxg3 Bxg3 22. d6+ Kh7 23. Nxf5+ Kg6 24. Nxg3 {+/-}) 21. d6+ Rf7 {-+}) 19. fxe3 Qxg5 (19... Bxg3 {is the less attractive alternative} 20. d6+ Kh7 21. g6+ Kh6 22. Nxf5+ Kxg6 23. Nxg3 Qxd6 (23... cxd6 {?  would be great except for} 24. Qd3+ Bf5 25. Nxf5 Rxf5 26. Be6 {+-}) 24. Qd3+ Bf5 25. Nxf5 Rxf5 26. Rdf1 +-) 20. Nf1 a5 21. Nf3 Qf6 22. c4 bxc3 23. bxc3 a4 24. Bc2 [diagram]  (24. Bxa4 {is the last straw} Rxa4 25. Qc2 {-+} )

Simex (2008) – Evilone (1902)    Playchess.com    Game 5 min.    3/19/06

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d5 {Khan Gambit} 3. exd5 Bd6 4. Nc3 f5 5. d3 Nf6 6. Qe2 O-O 7. Bd2 a6 8. O-O-O {I normally do not see Queenside castling in this opening.} b5 9. Bb3 Bb7 10. Nf3 Nbd7 11. Ng5 {the White N is headed for the e6 square where it could cause me some problems.} Nc5 12. Ne6 Nxe6 13. dxe6 Qe7 {to prevent e7 winning the Black Q} 14. Bg5 Kh8 15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. Bxd5 Rab8 17. g3 h6 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Rhf1 a5 20. f4 a4 21. Rde1 e4 (21... exf4 22. gxf4 {= Deep Fritz 8}) 22. dxe4 fxe4 23. Qxe4 a3 24. c3 axb2+ 25. Kxb2 b4 26. Bb3 bxc3+ 27. Kc2 Rb4 28. Qd3 Rd4 29. Qe3 (29. Qxc3 Bb4 30. Qe3 Qf5+ 31. Kb2 Rd2+ 32. Qxd2 Bxd2 33. e7 Re8 34. Re5 Qd3 35. Rd1 c5 36. Rd5 Bc3+ 37. Kc1 Qe2 38. R1d3 Qb2+ 39. Kd1 Rxe7 40. Rd8+ Kh7 41. Bg8+ Kg6 42. R8d6+ Kh5 43. R6d5+ g5 44. Rxc3 Qxc3 45. Rd2 c4 46. Bxc4 Qxc4 47. g4+ Kxg4 48. Rg2+ Kf3 49. Rg3+ Kf2) (29. Qxc3 Bb4 30. Qe3 Qf5+ 31. Kb2 Rd2+ 32. Kc1 Rfd8 33. Qe4 Qa5 34. Kb1 Qa3 35. Bc2 Rxc2 36. Qxc2 Bxe1 37. Qb3 Qa5 38. g4 c5 39. e7 Re8 40. Rf3 Bf2 41. Qc3 Qb5+ 42. Qb2 Qf1+ 43. Qc1 Qe2 44. Rb3 Qxe7 {-+ 9.13 Deep Fritz 8}) 29... Rd2+ 30. Kc1 Ba3+ {-+ it is mate in 2 after 31.Kb1 c2+ 32.Bxc2 Qb2+ mate} 0-1
 

3.cxd5 Nf6

In the following game Dr. G. Halasz plays a late f5 move transposing into the normal Khan Gambit lines with the Black B at d6, pawns at e5 and f5.

J.F. Lens – Dr. G Halasz     CC EU/M/GT/172    (no year given)

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d5 {Khan Gambit} 3. exd5 Nf6 {I normally play Bd6 and f5} 4. Nc3 Bd6 5. d3 h6 {to prevent the Bg5 pin but it weakens the Kingside position} 6. Nge2 O-O 7. Ng3 Nbd7 8. Be3 Nb6 9. Bxb6 {I would not have played this move because this B could be used in the Kingside attack. The N at b6 does not do that much. White should have played Bb3.} axb6 10. Nce4 Nxe4 11. dxe4 f5 {Black finally gets in the freeing move f5.} 12. Nxf5 Bxf5 13. exf5 Rxf5 14. g3 Qf6 15. Rf1 e4 16. c3 b5 17. Bxb5 Be5 18. Qc2 {to prevent Bxc3+} Ra3 {Deep Fritz 8 did not even consider this move.} (18... Rf3 19. Qxe4 Rxc3 20. bxc3 Bxc3+ 21. Ke2 Bxa1 22. a4 Bd4 23. f4 Bc5 24. Rc1 Bd6 {+- 1.02 Deep Fritz 8 }) 19. Rc1 {=/+ 0.63 White went from winning to losing with this move.} (19. O-O-O Rxa2 20. Kb1 Ra5 21. Bd7 Rh5 22. Qxe4 {+- 1.92 Deep Fritz 8}) 19... Rxa2 20. Bc4 Ra8 21. d6+ Kh8 22. dxc7 Bxc7 23. Rd1 Rf8 24. Rd4 e3 25. f4 Bb6 26. Rd5 Rxd5 27. Bxd5 Rd8 28. c4 Bd4 29. Rf3 (29. Ke2 b5 30. b3 Rb8 31. Kf3 bxc4 32. bxc4 Qb6 {+/- 0.99 Deep Fritz 8}) 29... Ra8 30. b4 Qa6 31. c5 Qb5 (31... Qa1+ 32. Ke2 Qg1 33. Rf1 Qxh2+ 34. Kd3 Ra3+ 35. Bb3 e2 36. Rb1 e1=Q 37. Rxe1 Qxg3+ 38. Kxd4 Qxe1 39. Qc4 Ra8 {-+ 6.04 Deep Fritz 8}) 32. Qc4 Ra1+ 33. Ke2 Qa4 34. Qb3 Qxb3 35. Bxb3 Rb1 36. Bd1 Rb2+ 37. Ke1 Rxb4 38. f5 Kg8 39. Rf4 Kf7 40. Bf3 Rb1+ 41. Ke2 Bxc5 42. Kd3 b6 43. h4 Kf6 44. Ke2 Rb2+ 45. Kd3 Rd2+ 46. Kc4 [diagram]

Chess engine Hiarcs 8 gets into trouble because the White King is trapped in the center, while Black continues to threaten checkmate.

Hiarcs 8 – Shredder 6.02    Chess Engine Game   2002

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d5 {Khan Gambit} 3. exd5 Nf6 {a different Khan Gambit line} 4. Qe2 Bd6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Nc3 (6. Nxe5 {??} Bxe5 7. Qxe5 Re8 {and White's Q drops}) 6... e4 7. Nd4 Bc5 8. Nb3 Bg4 9. Qf1 Bb6 10. h3 Bh5 11. a4 c6 12. a5 Bc7 13. Nc5 cxd5 14. Nxb7 Qd7 15. Bb5 Nc6 16. g4 Rab8 17. Ba4 e3 (17... Bg6 18. g5 e3 19. gxf6 exf2+ 20. Kxf2 Rxb7 21. fxg7 Kxg7 22. d3 Be5 23. a6 Rb6 24. Qe2 Qf5+ 25. Kg2 Bh5 26. Qf2 Qg6+ 27. Kf1 Bg3 28. Qxg3 Qxg3 29. Rg1 Qxg1+ 30. Kxg1 {=/+ 0.59 a slight edger for Black according to Deep Fritz 8}) 18. dxe3 Bg6 19. Nc5 Qd6 20. Na6 Rbe8 21. Nxc7 Qxc7 22. g5 Ne4 23. Nxe4 Rxe4 24. Bd2 d4 {-/+ 0.93 Although White is up 2 pawns, his King is not in a safe position. Black is builiding up for a Kingside attack and White's forces are not well coordinated to defend the White K.} 25. Bxc6 Qxc6 26. c3 dxe3 27. fxe3 Rd8 28. Rg1 (28. Ra2 Qd5 29. b3 Qxb3 30. Ra1 Rxd2 31. Qf3 Qxc3 32. O-O Qe5 33. Rf2 Qxa1+ 34. Kg2 Rxf2+ 35. Qxf2 Qe5 {-+ 23.04 Deep Fritz 8}) 28... Qd7 29. Qg2 Bh5 {a strong move, cutting off the light squares surrounding the White King} 30. b3 Qd3 31. Qf2 [diagram]

3.exd5 f5

Instead of 3…Bd6 Black plays f5 right away. This is actually a playable option.

Shabura1 (2024) – Evilone (2032)     Internet Chess Club   r 2 12    7/18/09

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d5 {Khan Gambit} 3. exd5 f5 {sometimes I play an early f5 like in the Halasz Gambit, most of the time I would play Bd6 and then f5.} 4. f4 e4 5. d3 Nf6 6. dxe4 fxe4 7. Nc3 Bd6 8. Nge2 O-O 9. O-O Qe8 {Black is setting up for a Kingside attack with an eventual Qh5} 10. Nd4 a6 11. a4 {to prevent b5 which would disrupt White's center position} Kh8 12. f5 {White plans to post the N at d4 to e6 where it will cause problems for Black.} Bc5 13. Be3 Nbd7 14. Qe2 Ne5 15. Bb3 Neg4 16. Nd1 Qe5 {a strong move which attacks both h2 threatening checkmate and also threatening to win the N at d4} 17. Bf4 Bxd4+ 18. Kh1 Qe7 (18... Qxf5 19. Bxc7 Qg5 20. Qxe4 Bc5 21. Qc4 b6 22. Qf4 Nd7 23. Qc4 Bb7 {-+ 4.73 Deep Fritz 8}) 19. h3 Nh6 20. g4 Nf7 21. g5 Ng8 22. d6 cxd6 23. g6 Nfh6 24. Bxg8 Kxg8 25. Bxh6 gxh6 26. Qh5 Bg7 (26... hxg6 27. Qxg6+ Qg7 28. Qxd6 Bxf5 29. Ne3 Bxe3 30. Rg1 Bg5 31. h4 Rad8 32. Qb4 Qg6 33. Rg2 e3 34. Kg1 Be4 35. Rg4 Rf4 36. Qc4+ Qf7 37. Qxf7+ Kxf7 {-+ mate in 9 moves according to Deep Fritz 8}) 27. gxh7+ Kxh7 28. Qg6+ Kh8 29. Ne3 Qh4 30. Ng4 Qxh3+ 31. Kg1 Bd7 {According to Fritz5 I missed 31...Bxf5 32. Rxf5 Bd4+ 33.Rf2 Rg8 & white is in deep trouble.} (31... Bxf5 32. Nf2 Bd4 33. Ra3 Qh4 34. Qg3 Rg8 {-+ 34.07 Deep Fritz 8}) 32. Rad1 Bc6 33. Rxd6 e3 34. Nf6 Qh1# 0-1
 

Brunhilde (2631) – Evilone (1989)    Internet Chess Club Game   G15 min.   1/18/99

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d5 {The Khan Gambit.} 3. exd5 f5 {I usually play 3.. .Bd6 but I have had problems with White's move 4.d4 which put immediate pressure on my center pawn. The move 3...f5 was played to further support this center pawn, in case I have to play e4.} 4. Qh5+ g6 5. Qe2 Bd6 6. d4 e4 7. Nh3 Nf6 8. Bg5 {Better was 8.Bh6 to disrupt Black's king side castling.} O-O 9. Nc3 a6 {The move 9...a6 was to prevent White from playing 10.Nb5 which would knock out my good bishop at d6.} 10. O-O b5 11. Bb3 Re8 12. a3 Nbd7 13. Nf4 Nf8 14. Ne6 Qe7 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Nxc7 Bd7 {Here I decided to sac the exchange. This would prevent White from activating his Q side pieces & I would still have enough material for a king side assault.} 17. Nxa8 Rxa8 18. Rad1 Re8 19. a4 {White has to try something otherwise Black will just squeeze White. This could have been a mistake on White's part. Now the move b4 chases the N away from holding my center pawns at bay.} b4 20. Na2 a5 21. Rfe1 f4 22. Qa6 f3 {The key move that weakens White's king side. It also threatens the cheap shot 23...Bxh2+ if White does not move his Q.} 23. Qxa5 Qh4 24. h3 [diagram]

3. exd5 Nf6 4.Nc3 c6   Reversed Goring Gambit

A reversed Goring Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3) can occur after 1.e4 e5 2.Bc5 d5 3.exd5 c6. Black gets good development for the pawn sacrifice.

Shredder 6.02-Fritz 7    Chess Engine Game   2002

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d5 {Khan Gambit} 3. exd5 c6 {an interesting move like a reversed Goring Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3)} 4. dxc6 Nxc6 5. d3 Nf6 6. Nf3 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Qb6 8. Nc3 O-O 9. O-O Bg4 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Nd4 12. Qd1 Bd6 13. Rb1 Rfd8 14. Re1 Qc7 15. Bg5 Be7 {Black cannot allow the N at f6 to be exchanged with Bxf6 and gxf6 which would weaken the Black Kingside position.} 16. Bh4 Rac8 17. Bg3 Bd6 18. Bh4 Be7 19. Rc1 b5 20. Nxb5 Nxb5 21. Bxb5 Rb8 22. c4 a6 23. Bxa6 Rxb2 24. a4 Rb6 25. Bb5 Bb4 26. Re2 Re6 27. Qb3 Bc5 28. Rce1 Bd4 {It is a strange position, White cannot make progress with 2 pawns up. The   Black B at d4 is at a really strong post. It guards the e pawn and aims at the weak square at f2. The White B at h4 is not doing that much. Black's B is actually stronger than White's B.} 29. Qc2 h6 30. c5 g5 31. Bg3 Nh5 32. Bh2 Nf4 33. Re4 Rd5 34. c6 Rdd6 35. Qa2 Rd8 36. h4 Rg6 37. Qb3 Kg7 38. Rc1 Rgd6 39. Ree1 Rf6 40. hxg5 Bxf2+ 41. Kh1 (41. Kxf2 Nxd3+ 42. Kg1 Qa7+ 43. Kh1 Nf2+ 44. Kg1 Nd3+ {= and White cannot avoid perpetual check}) 41... hxg5 42. g3 Rh6 43. gxf4 Rdh8 44. Kg2 Rxh2+ 45. Kf3 Bxe1 46. Qb2 {-+ a desperado move to delay the game, White's king is in a mating net  and it is mate in 8 according to Deep Fritz 8} Rxb2 47. Rxe1 Rh3+ 48. Kg4 Qc8+ 49. f5 Qh8 50. f6+ Kg6 51. Rxe5 Rg2# 0-1
 

Reversed Danish Gambit   3.exd5 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.dxc6 Bc5 6.cxb7 Bxb7

Also possible is a reversed Danish Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2) type of position after 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 d5 3.exd5 Nf6 4.Nc3 c6 5.dxc6 Bc5 6.cxb7 Bxb7. The test game showed that even this gambit line is playable.

Extreme Chess – Clyde Nakamura (2170)   Test Game vs Chess Engine 1997

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d5 {Khan Gambit} 3. exd5 Nf6 4. Nc3 c6 5. dxc6 Bc5 6. cxb7 Bxb7 {A reverse Danish Gambit line (1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc3 cxb2 5.Bxb2)} 7. Nf3 e4 8. Qe2 O-O 9. Ng5 Qe7 {over protecting the e pawn} 10. O-O h6 11. Nxf7 Rxf7 12. d3 Nc6 13. Bxf7+ Qxf7 14. dxe4 Nd4 15. Qd3 Rd8 16. Rb1 Qe6 17. Re1 {guarding the e pawn} Ba6 18. Qg3 Nxc2 19. Bxh6 {threatening checkmate with Qxg7+} Ng4 20. Be3 Ngxe3 21. fxe3 Nxe1 22. Rxe1 Rd2 23. Qb8+ Kh7 24. Qg3 Rxb2 (24... Bb4 25. Qh4+ Kg8 26. a3 Bxc3 27. bxc3 Bb7 {-+ 2,42 Deep Fritz 8, a lot of White's pawns are isolated and Black can pick off the loose pawns. White is in deeptrouble}) 25. Na4 Rc2 26. Nxc5 Rxc5 27. Rd1 Rc6 (27... Be2 28. Re1 Bd3 29. Qh4+ Kg6 30. e5 Rxe5 31. Qf4 Rg5 32. Rd1 Rg4 33. Qf2 Be4 34. g3 Rg5 35. a3 Qb3 36. Rd6+ Kh7 37. Qf4 Qc2 38. Qh4+ Kg8 39. Rd8+ Kf7 40. Rd7+ Ke6 41. Re7+ Kxe7 42. Qxg5+ Ke6 43. Qg4+ Kd5 44. Qd7+ Kc4 45. Qc7+ Kb3 46. Qxc2+ Bxc2 {-+ 9.50 Deep Fritz 8, Nakamura- it is an easy endgame with for Black.}) 28. e5 Bb5 29. Qh4+ Qh6 30. Qe4+ Qg6 31. Qh4+ Qh6 32. Qe4+ Qg6 (32... Rg6 33. Rd6 Qg5 34. a4 Be8 {=/+ 0.81 Deep Fritz 8}) 33. Qh4+ Qh6 1/2-1/2
 

3. Bxd5 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nxd5 5.Nxd5

In this line Black neutralizes the dangerous Black Bishop at d5 by eliminating it with 5. Nxd5.

MChess Pro – Clyde Nakamura      Khan Gambit Test Game     1996

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d5 {[This was the starting position of this new gambit that I had envisioned.  There are 3 gambits from the Black side against the Bishop's Opening:  2...f5 Calabrese Counter Gamb. 2...b5   &  2...d5]} 3. Bxd5 {[If White played 3.exd5 then Black can play 3...Bd6 a reverse Halasz Gambit.]} Nf6 4. Nc3 Nxd5 5. Nxd5 Bd6 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O f5 8. d3 fxe4 9. Bg5? Qe8 10. dxe4 Bg4 11. Qd3? {[White had to play 11.Bh4. Now the B at g5 hangs after Black plays Bxf3  and Qg6.]} Bxf3 12. Qb3 Kh8 {[12...Kh8 forced. Moves such as 12...Nc6 lead to 13.Nf6+ and Black's Q drops.]} 13. gxf3 Qg6 14. h4 h6 15. Qxb7 Nd7 {[Here I sat in deep thought but I could see no clear win. I could have sacri-   ficed the R at a8 but this was very risky.]} 16. Nxc7 Rab8 17. Qc6 Rf7 18. Rad1 Rb6 19. Qa8+ Kh7 20. Ne8 hxg5 21. h5! {[A good move. I cannot really touch the h pawn because then my K & Q would   be lined up for a cheap shot on the h file.]} Qe6 22. Nxd6 Rxd6 23. Rxd6 Qxd6 24. Qxa7 Rxf3 25. Kg2 g4 {[If I had played 25...Rf4 White had 26.f3 and it would be very difficult to  conduct an attack on White's king.]} 26. Qb7 Nf8 27. a4 Qf6 28. Qb8 Qh4 {[Better was 28...Ne6 threatening 29...Nf5+ with a very strong kingside   attack.]} 29. Qc8! {[White has neutralized my attack. I had planned 29...Qh3+ & 30...g3.  I need to post my N at f4 but I have to play either 29...Qf6 or 29...Rf6   to guard the e6 square.]} Rf6 30. Qc3 Qg5 31. Qe3 Rf4 32. b4 Ne6 33. Rb1 Qf6 34. Rb3 [diagram]

Asuka Nakamura(2155)-Clyde Nakamura(2090)   Hawaii International #4  1997

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d5 {out of book} 3. Bxd5 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nxd5 5. Nxd5 Bd6 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Ne3 Nc6 8. O-O f5 9. exf5 Bxf5 {+- [Clyde: I had considered 9...e4 because it looked like a promising attack, but decided against it because if the attack fails then it would be difficult to defend the e pawn.]} (9... e4 {!? is worth consideration} 10. Ne1 Qh4 {+/-}) 10. Nxf5 Rxf5 11. Qe2 Qf6 12. d3 Rf8 13. c3 Qd8 14. Qe4 Kh8 15. Be3 a6 16. Qg4 Qe7 17. Nh4 R5f7 18. Qh3 Kg8 19. Nf3 h6 20. Qg4 Rf6 21. Qc4+ Kh8 22. Qe4 Qf7 23. Kh1 Qh5 24. Qh4 Qg6 25. Qe4 = ({Better is} 25. Rad1 {!? +/-}) 25... Qh5 26. Rg1 Qf7 27. b4 Re8 28. a4 Nd8 29. Rab1 c6 30. c4 Qe7 31. Nh4 Kg8 32. c5 Bc7 33. b5 axb5 34. axb5 cxb5 35. Rxb5 Qd7 36. Rbb1 Ref8 37. Ng6 Re8 38. Nh4 {=} ({better is} 38. Rge1 {!? +/-}) 38... Ref8 {[Clyde: At this point I had been playing Rubik's Cube Chess (just moving back and forth till White blunders).]} 39. Rgf1 {?? -/ +  a transition from better to worse} ({better is} 39. Nf3 {+/-}) 39... Rf4 {[Clyde: I had been waiting to play this exchange of my R for White's B & N.]} 40. Bxf4 Rxf4 41. Qg6 Rxh4 42. h3 Rf4 43. Kg1 Rf6 44. Qe4 Rf4 {=} (44... Rf7 {!? -/+}) 45. Qg6 {[Clyde: White offered the draw because I believe that Black has actually got a chance ( very small chance ) to win this game, but I was too exhausted to play it out, so I accepted the draw.]} 1/2-1/2
 

Eugene Martinovsky(2265)-Clyde Nakamura(2170)    Hawaii International #4   1997

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d5 {out of book} 3. Bxd5 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nxd5 5. Nxd5 Bd6 6. d3 O-O 7. Ne2 f5 8. exf5 Bxf5 9. Ng3 Bg6 10. O-O Nc6 {+/-} (10... e4 {!?} 11. Nxe4 Bxh2+ 12. Kxh2 Qxd5 {+/=}) 11. Ne4 Bxe4 12. dxe4 Qh4 13. f3 Rad8 14. c3 {[Clyde: Martinovsky did not like his game. According to him there is a traffic jam on the e3 square. Both his N & B need this square. He believes that Black had compensation for the pawn sac in the opening.]} Bc5+ {[Clyde: According to Martinovsky a better plan was to play 14...Rf7, double the R's on the f file and pawn storm down the kingside.]} 15. Kh1 Kh8 16. Qe1 Qh5 {[Clyde: Here I opted to not exchange Q's to further my kingside attack but better was exchanging Q's to play a difficult game a pawn down.]} 17. Nxc7 Rd6 18. Nd5 g5 (18... a6 {+-}) 19. Be3 (19. b4 {!?} Bb6 20. b5 {+-}) 19... Rh6 (19... Bxe3 20. Qxe3 Rh6 {+-}) 20. Qg3 Bxe3 21. Nxe3 Rf4 22. Rad1 Rf7 23. Rd5 Re6 24. b4 a6 25. a4 Rf4 26. Rfd1 h6 [diagram]

Extreme Chess – Clyde Nakamura    Khan Gambit Test Game    1997

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d5 {Khan Gambit} 3. Bxd5 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nxd5 5. Nxd5 {The B at f4 was dangerous and had to be exchange off.} Bd6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Ne3 O-O 8. O-O f5 {the freeing pawn break which will give Black the half open f file and start the Kingside attack.} 9. exf5 e4 10. Ne1 Bxf5 11. Nxf5 Rxf5 12. Qg4 Rf4 13. Qe6+ Kh8 14. g3 Nd4 15. Qd5 Ne2+ 16. Kg2 Qd7 17. Qxb7 {not sure what White is doing, the White King is in danger of checkmate. White should not go pawn hunting because this will lead to disaster.} (17. gxf4 {?} Nxf4+ {this variation drops the White Q at d5}) 17... Raf8 18. f3 exf3+ 19. Rxf3 Rxf3 20. Nxf3 Qg4 {White's is quickly getting into trouble. His R & B are still on the back rank and White"s K is in very real danger of checkmate.} 21. d3 Nxg3 22. h3 Qe6 23. Be3 {played to slow down Black's attack} Qxe3 24. Re1 Qf4 25. c3 Nh5 26. Kh1 Qg3 27. Rf1 (27. Ng1 Qh2#) 27... Qxh3+ 28. Kg1 (28. Nh2 Rxf1#) 28... Rf6 (28... Qg3+ 29. Kh1 Re8 30. Ne5 Qxe5 31. Qg2 Ng3+ 32. Kg1 Qe3+ 33. Qf2 Ne2+ 34. Kg2 Qg5+ 35. Kh3 Re3+ 36. Qxe3 Qxe3+ 37. Kg4 Qg3+ 38. Kh5 g6+ 39. Kh6 Qh4#) 29. Qe4 Rg6+ 30. Kf2 Bg3+ 31. Ke2 h6 32. Ng5 (32. Qxg6 {? this drops the White Q} Nf4+) 32... hxg5 33. Qxg6 Qg2+ 34. Ke3 Qxf1 35. Qe8+ Kh7 36. Qxh5+ Kg8 37. Qe8+ Qf8 38. Qxf8+ Kxf8 39. Kf3 Bf4 40. c4 Ke7 41. b4 Ke6 42. Ke4 Bd2 43. b5 g4 44. a4 g5 45. d4 g3 46. Kf3 g2 47. Kxg2 Bc3 48. Kg3 Bxd4 49. Kg4 Kd6 {the game is over, the endgame is lost} 50. Kxg5 Kc5 51. Kf5 Kxc4 52. Ke4 Bb6 53. Ke5 Kb4 54. Kd5 Kxa4 55. Kc4 Ka5 56. Kd3 Kxb5 57. Kd2 Kb4 58. Kd3 Kb3 59. Ke4 a5 60. Ke5 a4 61. Kd5 a3 62. Ke6 a2 63. Kd5 a1=Q 64. Ke6 Qa5 65. Kf6 Qd5 66. Ke7 Qd6+ 67. Kf7 Qe5 68. Kg6 Qf4 69. Kh5 Qg3 0-1
 

DrOctopuss (1895) – DarthMusashi (1851)    Playchess.com    Game 5min.    8/22/06

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d5 {the Khan Gambit, the aim of this move is to remove the dangerous White B from the playing field.} 3. Bxd5 (3. exd5 Bd6 {this is the move that I normally play and later I will play f5 to start my kingside attack. }) 3... Nf6 4. Nc3 Nxd5 5. exd5 Bd6 {Now I have remove the dangerous B from the playing field.} 6. Nge2 O-O 7. O-O f5 8. d3 a6 {to prevent Nb5 which could take out my good B at d6 which is needed for the kingside attack} 9. f4 Nd7 10. fxe5 Nxe5 11. Bf4 g5 12. Bxe5 Bxe5 13. Qd2 f4 14. d4 Bd6 15. Ne4 h6 16. c4 b6 17. N2c3 Bf5 18. Nxd6 Qxd6 19. Qe2 {?} Rae8 20. Qh5 Kg7 21. Rae1 Qd7 22. h3 {forced since I was threatening to trap the White Q with Bg4.} Bd3 23. Qf3 Bxf1 24. Rxf1 Re3 {the plan is to stack Rooks on the e file which puts White on the defensive} 25. Qd1 Rfe8 26. Qd2 Qf5 {Blacks plan now is to march my kingside pawns down White's kingside  to play for the checkmate} 27. Kh2 h5 28. c5 g4 29. h4 (29. d6 cxd6 30. cxd6 Rf8 31. Ne2 Qe4 32. Nc3 Qg6 {=+ 3.03}) 29... f3 30. d6 [diagram]

NilsEP (1811) – DarthMusashi (1846)    Playchess.com     Game 5 min.     6/13/06

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d5 {Khan Gambit} 3. Bxd5 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nxd5 {I had to eliminate the dangerous B at d5.} 5. Nxd5 Bd6 6. Nf3 O-O 7. d3 f5 8. Bg5 Qe8 9. h3 Nc6 10. O-O fxe4 11. dxe4 Qh5 12. Be3 Bxh3 13. gxh3 (13. Ng5 Bg4 14. Qd3 h6 15. f3 Bc8 16. g4 Bxg4 17. Qb3 Kh8 18. fxg4 Qxg4+ 19. Kh1 hxg5 20. Qd3 Qh3+ 21. Kg1 Nd4 22. Bxd4 Qg4+ 23. Kh1 exd4 24. Qd2 Rxf1+ 25. Rxf1 Re8 26. e5 Rxe5 27. Qg2 Qh4+ 28. Qh2 Rxd5 {-+ 10.72 Deep Fritz 8}) 13... Rxf3 14. a4 Qxh3 15. Ra3 Qg4+ {it is mate next move.} 0-1
 

Frodes (1923) – DarthMusashi (1930)    Playchess.com    Game 5 min.    2/24/07

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 {Khan Gambit} d5 3. Bxd5 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nxd5 5. Nxd5 Bd6 6. Ne2 O-O 7. d4 f5 8. exf5 Bxf5 9. Ng3 Be6 10. Ne3 exd4 11. Qxd4 Nc6 12. Qe4 Qf6 13. O-O Rae8 14. Nd5 Qf7 15. Ne3 Bxa2 16. Qa4 Be6 17. Bd2 Qg6 18. Bc3 Rf4 19. Qb5 Nd8 20. Nh5 Rh4 21. g4 Bxg4 22. Qc4+ (22. Ng3 {this was the best move according to Deep Junior 10} a6 23. Qc4+ Ne6 24. Nxg4 Rxg4 25. Qd5 b5 26. Kh1 Rg5 27. Qa2 Qf7 28. f4 Bxf4 29. Rae1 c5 30. Qxa6 Qd7 31. Ne4 Rg4 32. Rd1 Nd4 33. Rde1 Qd5 34. Rxf4 Rxf4 35. Qd6 Qf7 36. Qxf4 Qxf4 37. Nf6+ gxf6 38. Rxe8+ Kf7 39. Re1 Qf2 40. Bxd4 Qxe1+ 41. Kg2 cxd4 {-+ 25.91}) 22... Be6+ 0-1
 

3.Bxd5 Nf6 4.Nc3 c6

Black chases the B away from d5.

GoodCompany – Blueboy   VOGChess  (no year given)

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d5 3. Bxd5 Nf6 4. Nc3 c6 {Nakamura: I would eliminate the B at d5 with Nxd5. And later play Bd6 & f5.} 5. Bb3 Bc5 6. Nge2 {? this is an error, now the White Kingside is weak.} Ng4 7. O-O O-O 8. Ng3 Qh4 9. h3 Nxf2 10. Qf3 Nxh3+ 11. Kh2 Ng5# (11... Nf4#) 0-1
 

 3.Bxd5 Nf6 4.Bb3

White keeps the White B by playing 5.Bb3.

Dragon311_2 – Fortress161    Computer Chess Game    4/22/2000

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d5 {Khan Gambit} 3. Bxd5 Nf6 4. Bb3 {White did not want ot exchange off the Bishops.} Nc6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Nge2 Bg4 7. f3 Be6 8. Ba4 Qd6 9. Nb5 Qe7 10. c3 Bc5 11. d4 O-O-O 12. d5 Kb8 (12... Nxd5 13. exd5 Bxd5 14. Qc2 a6 15. Na3 e4 16. f4 Qh4+ 17. g3 Qh3 18. Ng1 Qe6 {= according to Deep Fritz 8, this is strange because White is a piece up but lack piece coordination}) 13. Qc2 Nxd5 14. exd5 Bxd5 15. Ng3 Qh4 16. Bd2 e4 17. b4 exf3 18. bxc5 (18. O-O-O fxg2 19. Rhg1 Bxg1 20. Rxg1 a6 21. Nd4 Nxd4 22. cxd4 Qxd4 23. Ne2 Qa1+ 24. Qb1 Qf6 {-+ 6.79 and White's position looks very shaky because the White K is not in safe position.}) 18... Rhe8+ 19. Kd1 fxg2 20. Rg1 Qxh2 21. Ne2 Bf3 {-+ 13.11 and White's position falls apart at the seams.} 0-1
 

Counter Gambit Line   3.Bb3

There exists a counter gambit line against the Khan Gambit with moves 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 d5. And now White can play the counter gambit by playing 3.Bb3 which sacrifices the e pawn.  Analysis shows that White does not get enough compensation for the sacrificed  pawn. White is better off taking the pawn at d5 with either his e pawn or Bishop.

 Khan Gambit  - Counter Gambit Line    Analysis Nakamura & Deep Fritz 8    9/8/07

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d5 3. Bb3 {White keeps his good B and sacs the e pawn.}dxe4 4. Qe2 (4. Nc3 Nf6 5. f3 Bc5 6. Qe2 Nc6 7. Qc4 Qe7 8. fxe4 O-O 9. Nf3 Be6 10. Qe2 Nd4 11. Qd3 Rad8 {-+ 1.99 Deep Fritz 8, not very good for White, Black has a better position and White is still undeveloped. White's R & B at c1 are still not coordinated.}) 4... Nf6 5. Qc4 (5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Ba4 Bd7 7. Nxe4 Nd4 8. Nxf6+ gxf6 9. Bxd7+ Qxd7 10. Qe4 O-O-O 11. Nf3 f5 12. Qd3 Qe6 13. Nxd4 Rxd4 14. Qb3 {-+ 1.80 Deep Fritz 8}) 5... Qe7 6. Nc3 Be6 7. Qb5+ c6 8. Qxe5 Bxb3 9. Qxe7+ Bxe7 10. axb3 Na6 {-/+ 1.07 Deep Fritz 8, not very good for White} *
 

Transpositions into the Khan Gambit

There exists transpositions from the Calabrese Counter Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 f5) into a Khan Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 d5) type of opening position. This would occur after 3.d3 Nf6 4.Nf3 d5 5.exd5 Bd6. We see the familiar Black setup of B at d6, pawn at e5, and pawn at f5 which is a Khan Gambit opening position.

Lenhof – Wilhelm Steinitz      Vienna 1859

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 f5 {Calabrese Counter Gambit} 3. d3 Nf6 4. Nf3 d5 5. exd5 Bd6 {Black transposes into a Khan Gambit type of position.} 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 a6 {preventing Nb5 which would exchange off the B needed in a Kingside attack} 8. a4 {prevents b5 which would disrupt White's development} h6 {no pin on the N at f6} 9. d4 e4 10. Ne5 Nbd7 11. Nxd7 {exchanging off the N's helps Black's development} (11. f4 exf3 12. Nxf3 Ne4 13. Qd3 Qe8 14. b3 Qh5 15. Ba3 Re8 16. Bxd6 cxd6 17. Ne2 {+/- 1.18 Deep Fritz 8}) 11... Bxd7 12. f3 Qe8 13. fxe4 fxe4 14. Bf4 Qg6 15. Bxd6 cxd6 16. Qe2 Rae8 {White is a pawn up but the B at c4 is not active. It is really only guarding the d5 pawn and is actually out of play in this game.} 17. Rf4 Re7 18. Re1 Rfe8 19. Qf2 Nh5 20. Rh4 Rf7 21. Qd2 Nf6 22. h3 Qg5 (22... Qg3 23. Rhxe4 Nxe4 24. Rxe4 Ref8 25. Re3 Rf2 26. Rxg3 Rxd2 27. Rg6 Rxc2 28. Rxd6 Bxa4 29. Bd3 Rd2 30. Bxa6 bxa6 31. Nxa4 Rff2 32. Rg6 Kh7 33. Rg4 Rf5 34. Nc5 h5 35. Rh4 Rff2 36. Rxh5+ Kg6 37. Rh4 Rxg2+ 38. Kf1 Rdf2+ 39. Ke1 Rxb2 {-+ 2.09 Black now threatens mate from both sides}) 23. Qf4 Nh7 24. Qxg5 Nxg5 25. Rf1 Rfe7 26. Rhf4 e3 27. Re1 (27. Be2 Ne4 28. Nxe4 Rxe4 29. b3 b5 30. axb5 Rxf4 31. Rxf4 axb5 {+- 1.82 Deep Fritz 8}) 27... Bxh3 28. Bd3 Bd7 29. b3 Nh7 30. Nd1 Nf6 31. c4 Ng4 32. Rf3 Nf2 33. Bg6 Nxd1 34. Bxe8 Rxe8 35. Rxd1 Bg4 36. Re1 Bxf3 37. gxf3 Kf7 38. c5 dxc5 39. dxc5 Re5 40. c6 bxc6 41. dxc6 Ke6 42. Kf1 [diagram]

Reichert – Emil Diemer      Germany   1950

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 f5 {Calabrese Counter Gambit} 3. d3 Nf6 4. Nf3 d5 5. exd5 Bd6 {transposing into the Khan Gambit} 6. Nc3 a6 7. d4 e4 8. Ne5 Nbd7 9. f4 exf3 10. Nxf3 O-O 11. O-O Qe8 12. Ne2 Nb6 13. Bb3 Nbxd5 14. Kh1 (14. Re1 Kh8 15. c4 Ne3 16. Qd3 f4 17. Nxf4 Bxf4 18. Bxe3 Bf5 19. Qe2 Bxe3+ 20. Qxe3 Qd8 {+- 1.83 Deep Fritz 8 and Black is still down a pawn}) 14... Kh8 15. c4 Ne3 16. Bxe3 Qxe3 17. c5 Be7 18. Ne5 (18. Nc3 Qh6 19. Qe2 Bd8 20. Ne5 g6 21. Nf7+ Rxf7 22. Bxf7 c6 23. Rae1 Bc7 24. h3 Bd7 25. Qe7 g5 26. d5 Qg7 27. dxc6 bxc6 28. Bc4 {+- 2.34  Deep Fritz 8, Black is down an exchange}) 18... Ne4 19. Nf4 g6 20. Nfxg6+ hxg6 21. Nxg6+ Kg7 22. Nxe7 [diagram]

CONCLUSION

As I have said earlier the main purpose of the Khan Gambit is to neutralize the dangerous White Bishop on c4.  After 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 d5 3.exd5 Bd6 the White Bishop at c4 is reduced to guarding the d-pawn.  Black later plays f5,  Nf6 and castles Kingside and is set for a Kingside attack if White castles Kingside.  The chances of are very good that White will castle Kingside because I have not seen very many Queenside castling games in the Khan Gambit.  The other line 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 d5 3.Bxd5 is possible and Black can play 3…Nf6 attacking the White Bishop at d5 and threatening to capture it.  Capturing the White Bishop at d5 is also good for Black because it eliminates White’s strong Bishop.

The Khan Gambit type of position can be seen in 2 other openings.  This is the Elephant Gambit – Jonathan Roger’s Line (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 Bd6 and Black later plays  f5) and the Halasz Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.f4).  White later plays Bd3 and plays for the Kingside attack.  If you can play the Khan Gambit you can also play these other 2 gambits because they are a mirror image of each other.  The tactics and strategy in all 3 gambits is the same.

One line that I have not looked at  is 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 d5 3.exd5 (Khan Gambit) Black’s move 3…c6 offering the c6 pawn and if 4. dxc6 Nxc6 getting a reversed Goring Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3) type of position.  This was revealed in the chess engine game Shredder 6.02 – Fritz 7.

I also experimented with a Khan Gambit transposing into some form of the Danish Gambit.  It appears even this line is playable.  Transpositions can and do occur from other chess openings into the Khan Gambit.  A possible transposition can occur from the Calabrese Counter Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 f5) and if 3.Nf3 d5 4.exd5 Bd6 transposing into a Khan Gambit type of opening position.  The Calabrese Counter Gambit games show that past masters such as Wilhelm Steinitz and Emil Diemer (of Blackmar-Diemer Gambit fame) did understand the basic Khan Gambit positions.

A counter gambit line with the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 d5 3.Bb3 dxe5 is possible but analysis shows that this line is really not playable for White.

My tournament record with the Khan Gambit is 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss.  This all occurred at Hawaii International #4 in 1997.  According to Eric Schiller’s book called “Unorthodox Chess Openings, Vol. 2” page 35, the Khan Gambit was my consistent partner.  After defeating Gabe Kahane with the Khan, I drew the other Khan Gambit game against Asuka Nakamura (Hikaru Nakamura’s brother).  And lost to National Master Eugene Martinovsky with the Khan Gambit.

I believe that the basic idea of the Khan Gambit is sound and that the move d5 can be played in the opening against the setup of pawn at e4 and Bishop at c4.  This has been seen in other King Pawn openings with a similar setup such as the Lewis Counter Gambit and the Danish Gambit.
 

REFERENCES

Unorthodox Chess Openings, Vol. 2 by Eric Schiller
     Page 35 about Unorthodox Opening Specialist Clyde Nakamura and the Khan Gambit.

Gambit Chess Openings by Eric Schiller
     page 350 – covers the Lewis Counter Gambit but there is a small mention about the Khan Gambit.

Yahoo Unorthodox Chess Openings Newgroups
     Message Number: 503, 563, 564, 565, 567, 568, 570, 572, 575, 577, 578, 593, 597, 2759, 2761, 2763, 2766, 2775, 2807, 2813, 3688, 5093,  & 5096

Yahoo Unorthodox Chess Openings Newsgroup
     Files: khan2.pgn  Khan Gambit games posted 6/25/02
 

RESOURCES

• Click here to download a zipped PGN file (Khan Gambit 1) with all 24 games contained in this article.

________________________________________________________________________

Copyright 2007 Clyde Nakamura.  All rights reserved.

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