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LIEDMANN GAMBIT
by Clyde Nakamura

With the move 3.e3 White sacrifices a pawn and starts the Liedmann Gambit.

1.c4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.e3

White sacs one pawn for quick development of his minor pieces, especially the two bishops. The Liedmann Gambit was first played by Hans Jeorg Leidmann in a game against Ralf Hillmann at Leipzig in 1996. See game below:

Starting Position: Liedmann Gambit

Hans Joerg Liedmann – Ralf Hillmann Leipzig VfB op 1996

1. d4 c5 2. c4 cxd4 3. e3 {the Liedmann Gambit} dxe3 4. Bxe3 Nf6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Qa4 Nc6 7. Bd3 Qa5+ 8. Qxa5 Nxa5 9. O-O Nc6 10. a3 {to prevent Nb4} Be7 11. h3 {to prevent Ng4} b6 12. Bf4 Bb7 13. Nc3 O-O 14. Rfd1 Na5 15. Nd4 d5 (15... Rfc8 16. Ncb5 Nxc4 17. Rab1 Be4 18. Nc7 Bxd3 19. Rxd3 Rab8 20. Rc3 Bd6 21. Bxd6 Nxd6 22. Rbc1 {-+ 2.23 Deep Fritz 8 Not sure what White is up to. He is 2 pawns down.}) 16. cxd5 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. b4 Nc4 19. Bxc4 Bxc4 20. Rac1 Rac8 21. Nf3 Bd5 22. Nd4 Bc4 (22... a6 23. Nf5 Bf6 24. Ne3 Bb3 25. Rxc8 Rxc8 26. Rd6 h5 27. g4 Rc1+ 28. Kg2 g5 29. Bh2 Ba4 30. gxh5 Bc6+ 31. f3 Kh7 32. Kf2 Rc3 33. Bg3 b5 34. Bh2 Be7 35. Be5 Bxd6 36. Bxc3 f5 37. Bd2 Bf4 {-+ 2.30 I believe Black has the advantage}) 23. Nf3 Rfd8 24. Ne5 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Bd5 26. Ng4 h6 {making an escape square for the Black King} 27. Ne3 Rd8 (27... Bc6 28. Rc1 b5 29. Be5 a6 30. Rd1 Kf8 31. Kf1 Rd8 32. Bd4 f6 33. Ke2 e5 34. Bc5 Rxd1 35. Kxd1 Bxc5 36. bxc5 g6 {preventing Nf5} 37. Kd2 Ke7 38. Kc3 a5 39. g3 f5 {-+ 2.34 Deep Fritz 8}) 28. Rc1 Bf6 29. Rc7 a5 30. bxa5 bxa5 31. Ra7 Ra8 32. Rc7 Bb3 33. Nc4 Bxc4 34. Rxc4 Be7 35. Bc1 a4 36. Kf1 Ra5

Position after 36…Ra5

(36... Kf8 37. h4 Bd6 38. Ke2 h5 39. f3 g6 40. Rd4 Ra6 41. Rc4 f6 {-+ 1.47 Black still has a 1 pawn advantage.})

37.Rc8+ Bf8 38.Bd2 Rc5 39.Ra8 Rb5 40.Bb4 Rxb4 41.axb4 a3 42.b5 {+- 5.49 it is clearly lost for Black} 1-0

I had actually wanted to play the Kahiko-Hula Gambit (1.c4 e5 2.e3 Nf6 3.f4 exf4 4.Nf3) in blitz games on the internet but instead some of my opponents played 1…c5. However, I still wanted to play a gambit against the 1…c5 reply to 1.c4.

The Liedmann Gambit became one of my gambit openings with the English Opening (1.c4) as my first move. Listed below are the gambit openings that are possible after I play the English Opening:

1.c4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.e3 Leidmann Gambit

1.c4 e5 2.e3 Nf6 3.f4 exf4 4.Nf3 Kahiko-Hula Gambit

1.c4 f5 2.e4 Hickmann Gambit

1.c4 f5 2.g4 English Lisbon Gambit

1.c4 Nf6 2.e4 Omega-Achilles Gambit

1.c4 Nf6 2.g4 English-Weidenhagen Gambit

1.c4 g6 2.h4 (this is not a gambit)
If 2…Bg7 3.h5 This causes problems for Black’s fianchetto position.

1.c4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e4 Diemer-Duhm Gambit

1.c4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e4 Diemer-Duhm Gambit (Caro-Kann Variation)

What really is the Leidmann Gambit? That is the question. I believe it is a Maroczy bind position without pawns on the d- and e-files. In a Maroczy bind position in the Sicilian Defense, White basically has pawns at c4 and e4 which prevents Black from playing the key move d5 which will free Black’s game.

With this gambit White obtains freedom of movement for the two bishops, plus half open d- & e-files. The dynamics of this opening are very different from Maroczy Bind positions. In the games I have seen White has more quick strike capability than in Maroczy Bind positions. This is because the minor pieces have very good freedom of movement.

There are not that many Leidmann Gambit games in the games that I downloaded from my databases. A majority of this gambit’s games are games from my blitz games on the Internet Chess Club and on Playchess.com.

LIEDMANN GAMBIT ACCEPTED

BLACK FIANCHETTOES KINGSIDE AND CASTLES KINGSIDE

Evilone (1872) – Master Vampire (1926) Playchess.com Game 3min. 9/11/04

1. c4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3 {the Liedmann Gambit} dxe3 4. Bxe3 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Bd3 Bg7 7. Qd2 O-O 8. Bh6 {to exchange off the Black fianchettoe B which will weaken Black's Kingside position.} Nc6 9. Nf3 d6 10. h4 Bg4 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. cxd5 Ne5 13. Nxe5 dxe5 14. h5 Qxd5 (14... Bxh5 {??} 15. Rxh5 gxh5 16. Qg5 {and Black cannot stop checkmate}) 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. hxg6 fxg6 17. Qh6+ Kf6 18. Qh4+ Kg7 (18... g5 19. Qxh7 Ke6 20. f3 Qa5+ 21. Ke2 Qd5 22. Rac1 Bxf3+ 23. gxf3 Qxf3+ 24. Kd2 Qf2+ 25. Kd1 Rad8 26. Rc7 Qf3+ 27. Kc2 Qxd3+ 28. Qxd3 Rf2+ 29. Kc3 Rxd3+ 30. Kxd3 Rxb2 31. Rc2 {+- 2.40 Deep Fritz 8}) (18... Ke6 19. Qxg4+ {+- 6.20 Black drops the B} Kd6 20. Qb4+ Qc5 21. Qxc5+ Kxc5 22. Rxh7 {+- 6.48 and it is lost for Black})

Position after 18…Kg7

19. Qxh7+ Kf6 20. Qxg6# 1-0

Evilone (1984) – Carloscorral (1943) Playchess.com Game 3min. 7/17/05

1. c4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3 dxe3 4. Bxe3 g6 5. Qd2 Bg7 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. h4 h5 {this weakens the pawn at g6 which could come under attack later on} 8. Nf3 Ng4 9. Bg5 f6 {Black weakens his K side postion. The pawn at g6 is very vulnerable to an attack.} 10. Bd3 {Fritz8 suggests 10.Bf4 which I believe is a lame move. My move is more powerfull.} fxg5 11. Bxg6+ Kf8 12. Nxg5 Qa5 13. O-O-O Bxc3 14. bxc3 {We need to avoid Q exchanges.} Qa3+ 15. Kb1 Rg8 16. Bxh5 Nf6 17. Qd3 Nc6 18. Nh7+ Nxh7 19. Qxh7 Rg7 20. Qh8+ Rg8 21. Qh6+ Rg7 22. Rh3 {The R lift is a very powerfull move. It guards the Pawn at c3 and threatens either Rg3 or Rf3+.} Ne5 23. Rg3 d6 24. Qxg7# 1-0

Evilone (1924) – Zesi (1919) Playchess.com Game 3m+4s 8/8/05

1. c4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3 {Liedmann Gambit} dxe3 4. Bxe3 Nc6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Qd2 Bg7 7. Nc3 d6 8. h4 h5 {this weakens the g6 pawn} 9. Bd3 Bg4 10. Ng5 Ne5 11. f3 Nxd3+ 12. Qxd3 Bf5 13. Qe2 Nf6 14. O-O O-O 15. Rac1 {to indirectly guard the c pawn} Qd7 16. Nge4 Nxe4 17. fxe4 Bg4 18. Qd2 b6 19. Bh6 {I need to weaken the Black Kingside position by exchanging off the Bishops.} Rac8 20. b3 {guarding the c pawn} Qe6 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Rf4 f5 23. Re1 Qd7 24. e5 Rc5 25. e6 {this shuts off the Black Q from guarding the Kingside} Qb7 26. Nd5 {this N is at a really strong advanced post where it could do some damage} Kh7 27. Ref1 b5 28. Rxg4 hxg4 29. h5 bxc4 30. bxc4 Rxc4 31. Qg5 gxh5 {? a very bad error by Black} (31... Qxd5 32. Qxg6+ Kh8 {= White has the perpetual check with Qh6+ and Qg6+.}) 32. Qxh5+ Kg7 33. Qg5+ Kh7 34. Nxe7 Qb6+ 35. Kh1 g3 (35... Qe3 36. Qxe3 Re4 37. Qg5 Rxe6 38. Rxf5 {+- and it is mate in 9 according to Deep Fritz 8}) 36. Qg6+ Kh8 37. Qh6# 1-0

Evilone (1915) – ChessGus (1878) Playchess.com Game 6min. 7/5/05

1. c4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3 {Liedmann Gambit} dxe3 4. Bxe3 d6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Qd2 Bg7 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. Nf3 Bg4 9. O-O-O Nf6 10. Kb1 {the standard King move when you castle Kingside} O-O 11. Bh6 Bxh6 12. Qxh6 Bxf3 13. gxf3 Ne5 14. h4 Nxd3 15. Rxd3 Qa5 16. Nd5 Nxd5 (16... Kh8 17. Nxf6 exf6 18. Rd5 Qd8 19. c5 Re8 20. h5 g5 21. Rhd1 Rb8 22. cxd6 b5 23. f4 g4 24. Rc5 Re6 25. d7 a5 26. f5 Ra6 27. f3 a4 28. Rd4 Qf8 29. Qxf8+ Rxf8 30. d8=Q Rxd8 31. Rxd8+ Kg7 32. h6+ Kxh6 33. Rg8 g3 34. Rc1 g2 35. Rxg2 Re6 36. Rh1#)

Position after 16…Nxd5

17. Rxd5 Qb4 18. Rh5 {a really strong move} gxh5 (18... Rfc8 19. Qxh7+ Kf8 20. Qh8#) 19. Rg1+ {and it is mate the next move} 1-0

Evilone (1900) – Bernie215 (1872) Playchess.com Game 5min. 3/27/05

1. c4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3 {Liedmann Gambit} dxe3 4. Bxe3 Nc6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. Qd2 Nf6 8. Bh6 O-O 9. h4 Ng4 10. Bxg7 Kxg7 11. h5 Qb6 12. Nd5 Qc5 13. b4 Qd6 14. c5 Qe6+ 15. Be2 Rb8 16. hxg6 hxg6 17. Ng5 Qe5 18. Rd1 {the R further guards the N at d5} f6 19. Nf3 Qe6 20. Kf1 {to get out of the nasty Q pin} Rh8 21. Rxh8 Kxh8 22. Bc4 Nce5 (22... Kg7 23. b5 Nge5 24. Nxe5 Nxe5 25. Bb3 d6 26. f4 Nf7 27. Re1 Qf5 28. Rxe7 Be6 29. cxd6 Rd8 30. Nc7 Bxb3 31. axb3 Rd7 32. b6 axb6 33. Ne6+ Kh8 34. Re8+ Kh7 35. Nf8+ Kg7 36. Nxd7 Qxd7 37. Re7 Qb5+ 38. Ke1 Qc5 39. Kd1 Qg1+ 40. Kc2 Qa1 41. Qd5 Qa2+ 42. Kd3 Qb1+ 43. Ke3 Qc1+ 44. Kf3 Qc3+ 45. Kf2 Qc5+ 46. Qxc5 bxc5 47. d7 Kg8 48. Rxf7 Kxf7 49. d8=Q {+- 18.11 Deep Fritz 8}) 23. Nxe5 Qxe5 24. f3 Nh2+ 25. Kf2 e6 26. Qh6+ Kg8 27. Qxg6+ Kh8 28. Nxf6 Qb2+ 29. Kg1 Nxf3+ {a desperado move } 30. gxf3 Qd4+ {another desperado move} 31. Rxd4 1-0

Evilone (1930) – Hanti (1961) Playchess.com Game 5 min. 3/11/06

1. c4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3 {The Liedmann Gambit} dxe3 4. Bxe3 Nf6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Qd2 O-O 8. Bh6 {I wanted to exchange off my B with the fianchetto B to weaken the Black kingside position.} d6 9. h4 Bf5 {I do not believe that this move was correct. It gave me an extra tempo in the position after I chase the B with Nd4.} 10. Nd4 Bd7 11. h5 Nc6 12. Bxg7 Kxg7 13. hxg6 fxg6 {This was the correct move. The other move leads to mate.} (13... hxg6 14. Qh6+ Kg8 15. Qh8#) 14. Nd5 {This seems forced because I had Qh6+ followed by Nxf6 which would give Black problems.} h5 15. O-O-O Nxd5 16. cxd5 Ne5 17. Kb1 {the thematic K move that comes with queenside castling.} Rf6 18. f3 {this is to prepare g4 to open the h file.} Qb6 19. g4 hxg4 (19... Nxf3 20. Nxf3 Rxf3 21. Be2 Rg3 22. gxh5 Qe3 23. Qe1 Bf5+ 24. Ka1 Rg2 25. Bf1 Qxe1 26. Rxe1 Rd2 27. Bc4 g5 28. Rxe7+ Kh6 29. Rf7 Be4 30. Rf6+ Kg7 31. Rhf1 Rd1+ 32. Rxd1 Kxf6 {-/+ 1.31 and Black has the advantage}) 20. Qh6+ Kf7 21. Qh7+ Ke8 {White is at a cross roads. What is the best move?} 22. Qg7 {I believe this is the best move because I have multiple threats. I can play Rh8+ and threaten checkmate or I can play Rh7 also threatening checkmate at e7.} Rf8 23. Rh7 Nf7 (23... Rf7 24. Rh8+ Rf8 25. Rxf8#) 24. Ne6 Bxe6 25. dxe6 gxf3 {another error because now my B at f1 can go to h3 to attack on the light squares.} 26. exf7+ Kd7 27. Qxg6 Rad8 28. Rc1 {This move cuts off the Blacks K escape squares.} a6 29. Bh3+ {29...e6 and 30.Qxe6+ mate.} 1-0

BLACK PLAYS A SICILIAN SHEVENINGEN PAWN STRUCTURE
WITH PAWNS AT e6 & d6

Evilone (1922) – Bazil (1993) Playchess.com Game 5 min. 7/18/05

1. c4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3 {Liedmann Gambit} dxe3 4. Bxe3 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 d6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. h3 {to prevent Ng4} b6 {interesting a Queen side fianchetto} 10. O-O-O Bb7 11. Rhg1 Nbd7 12. Kb1 {the standard King move when castling Queen side} Nc5 13. Bc2 {I needed to keep my good B which is needed in a Kingside attack.} Nce4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Qe2 Qc7 16. Nd2 d5 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. f3 f5 19. fxe4 Bxe4 20. Bxe4 fxe4 21. b3 {now i have weak dark squares surrounding my King.} Bf6 22. g4 Rad8 23. g5 Be5 24. Qg4 Qc6 25. g6 hxg6 (25... h6 26. Rxd8 Rxd8 27. Rd1 Rxd1+ 28. Qxd1 Qd6 {=/+ 0.69 and Black has a slight edge}) 26. Qxg6 Rxd1+ 27. Rxd1 b5 28. Rc1 bxc4 29. Rxc4 Qd5 30. Qxe4 Rf1+ 31. Bc1 Qa5 {? this move is a clear error. Black did not calculate this fully} 32. Rc8+ Kf7 33. Qb7+ Kg6 (33... Kf6 34. Rf8+ Kg6 35. Rxf1 {+- 8.98 and it is lost for Black}) 34. Qg2+ 1-0

Evilone (1800) – Shalmaneser (1975) Playchess.com Game 4m+2s 6/12/05

1. c4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3 {Liedmann Gambit} dxe3 4. Bxe3 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Nf3 d6 7. Bd3 e6 8. O-O {a Sicilian Scheveningen pawn position with pawns at e6 & d6. } Be7 9. Qe2 O-O 10. Rfd1 a6 11. h3 {to prevent Ng4} Qc7 12. Rac1 {indirectly guarding the c pawn and setting up the Sicilian Smith-Morra Gambit type of position for White where the 2 Rooks are at c1 and d1 and the Q is at e2.} Qb8 13. Bb6 Nd7 14. Qe4 Nf6 (14... g6 15. Na4 Bf6 16. Be3 Nb4 17. Bb1 d5 18. cxd5 Nxd5 {=/+ 0.49 Deep Fritz 8}) 15. Qh4 Bd7 16. Be3 b5 17. Bg5 h6 18. Bxh6 gxh6 19. Qxh6 Ne5 (19... bxc4 20. Qg5+ Kh8 {= Deep Fritz 8, White has the forced perpetual check.}) 20. Ng5 Nxd3 (20... Bc6 21. Bh7+ Kh8 22. Bf5+ Kg8 23. Rd4 Nf3+ 24. Nxf3 Be4 25. Rxe4 exf5 26. Rh4 Nh5 27. Rxh5 bxc4 28. Qh8# (28. Qh7#)) 21. Rxd3 1-0

Evilone (1800) – Le Morte (1838) Playchess.com Game 4m+3s 6/12/05

1. c4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3 {Liedmann Gambit} dxe3 4. Bxe3 Nc6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. Bd3 Bg4 8. h3 Bh5 9. g4 Bg6 10. Bxg6 hxg6 11. g5 Nd7 12. Qe2 e6 {the schevingen pawn setup with pawns at d6 & e6} 13. O-O-O {castling Queenside is much safer that remaining in the middle or castling Kingside} a6 14. Bf4 Qc7 15. Nd5 Qa5 16. Kb1 {to guard the a2 pawn} O-O-O 17. Bd2 Qa4 18. b3 Qa3 19. Nc3 Nde5 20. Na4 Nxf3 21. Qxf3 Ne5 22. Qe3 Nxc4 {? Black got greedy by winning a pawn but this actually compromises his Kingside. White can penetrate the Black Queenside position with Qa7.} (22... Kb8 23. Bc1 Qb4 {= Deep Fritz 8}) 23. Nb6+ Nxb6 24. Qxb6 Rd7 25. Rc1+ Kb8 26. Be3 {Black has to drop a Q to prevent checkmate.} 1-0

BLACK PLAYS 4…e6

Evilone (1800) – Ted14 (1767) Playchess.com Game 5min. 6/12/05

1. c4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3 {Liedmann Gambit} dxe3 4. Bxe3 e6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. Bd3 Nf6 7. Nf3 O-O 8. O-O d5 9. Qe2 Nc6 10. Bg5 Ne4 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Qxe4 g6 (12... f5 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qe3 Qf6 15. c5 Qxb2 16. Rfe1 Rd8 17. Bc4 Qf6 18. Rad1 Rxd1 19. Rxd1 h6 20. Bb5 Ne7 21. Ne5 Nd5 22. Qd4 Qg5 23. Be8 Qf6 24. Bf7+ Kh7 25. Bg6+ Kg8 26. Qa4 Qe7 27. Rd3 {+- 0.89 Deep Fritz 8}) 13. Bxe7 Nxe7 14. Rad1 Qc7 15. Qh4 Nf5 16. Bxf5 {forced, I did not want to move my Q} exf5 17. Ng5 h5 18. Rd4 Bd7 19. Rfd1 {stacking Rooks on the d file to control the file.} Bc6 20. Nh3 Qe5 21. Nf4 Rfe8 22. h3 {Black was threatening mate on my back rank so I had to make an escape square for my K.} Re7 23. Qg5 Kg7 (23... Qc5 24. Nxh5 {? this drops a piece} Re1+ 25. Rxe1 Qxd4 26. b3 a6 27. Ng3 Re8 28. Rxe8+ Bxe8 29. Nxf5 Qa1+ 30. Kh2 Qe5+ 31. g3 Qxf5 {-+ 1.81}) 24. Nxh5+ Kh7 25. Nf6+ Kg7 26. Nh5+ Kh7 27. Rh4 Rh8

Position after 27…Rh8

28. Nf6+ Kg7 29. Rxh8 Kxh8 (29... Re8 30. Rh7+ Kf8 31. Qh6+ Ke7 32. Nxe8 Bxe8 33. Qd2 Kf8 34. Re1 {+- and it is mate in 9 moves according to Deep Fritz 8}) 30. Qh6# 1-0

Evilone (1971) – Giasone (1864) Playchess.com Game 5min. 8/20/05

1. c4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3 {Liedmann Gambit} dxe3 4. Bxe3 Nc6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. Bd3 Ng4 8. Bd2 {I did not want to have my B at e3 exchanged off this early in the game.} Bc5 9. O-O O-O 10. h3 Nf6 11. a3 {to gain space on the Black Queenside.} h6 12. b4 Bb6 13. c5 {played to drive back the B at b6} Bc7 14. Qc1 Ne5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Re1 d6 17. Bxh6 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 (18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Qg5+ Kh8 20. Qh6+ Kg8 21. Re3 Be5 22. cxd6 Bxd6 23. Rc1 Bf4 24. Qxf4 Nh5 25. Qh6 f5 26. Qxh5 Rf7 27. Bxf5 exf5 28. Qg6+ Rg7 29. Re8+ Qxe8 30. Qxe8+ Kh7 31. Rc4 f4 32. Rxf4 Bg4 33. Qxa8 {+- 26.71 Deep Fritz 8}) 18... dxc5 19. Rad1 cxb4 20. axb4 Qe7 21. Qd2 (21. Bg5 Ne4 22. Qxg7+ Kxg7 23. Bxe7 Re8 24. Bh4 Nc3 25. Rc1 Nd5 26. Re4 a6 27. Rg4+ Kf8 28. Bh7 f6 29. Rgc4 Bd7 30. Be4 f5 31. Bf3 a5 32. bxa5 Rxa5 {+/= 0.29 a very slight edge for White, Deep Fritz 8}) 21... b6 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Qg5+ Kh8 24. Qh6+ Kg8 25. Re3 e5 26. Rg3+ Ng4 (26... Bg4 27. Rxg4+ Nxg4 28. Qh7#) 27. Qh7# 1-0

Clyde Nakamura (2100) – DrunkenMaster 1.2 (2322) Game 15 min. 11/7/06

1. c4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3 {the Liedmann Gambit} dxe3 4. Bxe3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Nf3 e6 7. a3 {to prevent the Bb4 pin} Ng4 8. Bf4 Bc5 9. Bg3 O-O 10. h3 Bxf2+ {this piece sac for the 2 pawns is really speculation on Drunken Masters part} (10... Nf6 11. b4 Be7 12. Nb5 d5 13. Nc7 Rb8 14. Nb5 e5 15. cxd5 Nxd5 16. Bc4 Be6 17. Qb3 e4 18. Nfd4 Rc8 19. O-O {=}) 11. Bxf2 Nxf2 12. Kxf2 Qb6+ 13. Kg3 Qxb2 14. Qc1 Qxc1 {it is an error to exchange Queens, this will lose the endgame.} 15. Rxc1 f5 {the plan for White is clear. He has to post the N at d6 to tie down Black's position.} 16. Be2 e5 17. Rhd1 {this is part of the plan to lock down the d6 square} e4 18. Nd4 Nxd4 19. Rxd4 g6 20. Nb5 h6 21. Nd6 {White has achieved his first goal} Kg7 (21... b6 22. c5 Rb8 23. Ra4 f4+ 24. Kg4 Bb7 25. Bc4+ Kg7 26. Rxa7 Bc6 27. Rb1 b5 28. Be2 g5 29. h4 Kg6 30. h5+ Kf6 31. Bxb5 e3 32. a4 {+- 2.49}) 22. Nxc8 Raxc8 23. Rxd7+ Rf7 24. Rcd1 Re8 (24... f4+ 25. Kh4 {+- 3.02 I am not sure why DM did not play Rcc7 to guard the 7th rank.} Rc7) 25. Rxf7+ Kxf7 26. Rd7+ Re7 27. Rxe7+ Kxe7 28. Kf4 Ke6 29. h4 {to tie down Black's pawn position} b6 {I believe that the endgame is now won for White.} 30. g4 Kf6 31. gxf5 gxf5 32. h5 Ke6 33. Bf1 Kf6 34. Bh3 e3 35. Kxe3 Kg5 36. Kf3 a6 37. a4 a5 38. Bf1 Kxh5

Position after 38…Kxh5

39. Kf4 Kg6 40. Bd3 Kf6 41. Bxf5 h5 {the plan now is very clear, White will pick off the pawn at b6 and position the White B on the c8 to h3 diagonal to prevent the h pawn from Queening} 42. Bh3 h4 43. Ke4 Kg5 44. Ke5 Kg6 45. Kd6 Kg5 46. Kc6 Kf4 47. Kxb6 Kg3 48. Bd7 1-0

BLACK PLAYS A SICILIAN KAN TYPE OF CONFIGURATION
WITH PAWNS AT a6 & e6

Evilone (1932) – Cvereaue (1928) Playchess.com Game 5min. 8/17/05

1. c4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3 {Liedmann Gambit} dxe3 4. Bxe3 e6 5. Nc3 a6 {a Sicilian Kan type of pawn configuration. It will be difficult to crack Black's position} 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Nf3 Nf6 8. O-O Be7 9. Qe2 Qc7 10. Rac1 {indirectly guarding the f pawn} O-O 11. Rfd1 {the Smith-Morra Gambit piece set up with the Rooks at c1 & d1 and the Q at e2} Ne5 12. Nxe5 Qxe5 13. f4 Qb8 14. g4 {I wanted to drive the Black N from its best square at f6. This will give Black a cramped game,} b6 15. g5 Ne8 16. Qh5 g6 17. Qh3 Bc5 18. Ne4 Bxe3+ 19. Qxe3 d5 20. cxd5 exd5 21. Nf6+ Nxf6 22. gxf6 Be6 {? this looks like a solid move but it loses to 23.f5 because White threatens mate with Qh6 and Qg7 checkmate.} (22... Qd6 23. Qd4 Bb7 24. Re1 Rfe8 25. b4 a5 26. a3 axb4 27. axb4 h6 28. Re5 Kh7 29. Rce1 Qxf6 30. R1e2 Ra3 31. R2e3 Rc8 32. Re1 Rcc3 33. Rd1 {-+ 2.99 Deep Fritz 8}) 23. f5 Bd7 24. Qh6 {Black cannot stop the checkmate at g7.} 1-0

BLACK PLAYS A HEDGEHOG TYPE OF PAWN CONFIGURATION

Evilone (1879) – Paws (2008) Playchess.com Game 5min. 5/31/05

1. c4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3 {Liedmann Gambit} dxe3 4. Bxe3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Nf3 d6 7. h3 {to prevent Ng4} a6 8. Bd3 e6 {Black has a Sicilian Scheveningen pawn formation with the pawns at e6 & d6.} 9. O-O Be7 10. a3 b6 {A hedgehog type of position with pawns at a6, b6, d6 & e6.} 11. b4 Bb7 12. Qe2 O-O 13. Rfd1 Qc7 14. Rac1 Qb8 15. Bxb6 Ne5 16. Nxe5 dxe5 17. c5 Bd5 18. Ne4 Qb7 19. Nxf6+ Bxf6 20. f3 {to prevent Bxg2 and e4} Bg5 21. Rc2 Bf4 22. Be4 f5 23. Bxd5 exd5 24. a4 d4 25. a5 Rf6 26. Qc4+ Kh8 27. c6 Qe7 28. c7 Rc8 29. Qxa6 Rff8 30. Qb5 (30. Rc5 Qh4 31. Rd5 Rxc7 32. Bxc7 Qg3 33. Qf1 Qh2+ 34. Kf2 Qg3+ 35. Ke2 Qg5 36. Bxe5 Re8 37. Kd3 Bxe5 38. Qe1 Qf6 39. f4 Qg6 40. Rxe5 Rf8 {+- 7.04 Deep Fritz 8}) 30... Qh4 31. Qf1 Qg3 32. a6 Be3+ 33. Kh1 Bf4 34. Kg1 Be3+

Position after 34…Be3+

35. Kh1 (35. Rf2 Bxf2+ 36. Qxf2 Qg6 37. Bc5 Rfe8 38. Ra1 Qc6 39. f4 Qxc7 40. fxe5 Qxe5 41. Bxd4 Qd5 42. Bc5 Re6 43. a7 Qb7 44. Qxf5 Ree8 45. Qf3 Re4 46. Rf1 Rg8 47. Qf7 Qc8 48. Qd5 Ree8 49. Ra1 Qa8 50. Qxa8 Rxa8 51. b5 Rgd8 52. b6 Rd7 53. Rf1 Kg8 54. Rf8+ Rxf8 55. Bxf8 Kxf8 56. a8=Q+ {+- 13.17 Deep Fritz 8}) 35... Bf4 36. Kg1 1/2-1/2

LIEDMANN GAMBIT DECLINED

BLACK DECLINES GAMBIT WITH 3…Nf6

Evilone (1879) – Drohtnix (1830) Playchess.com Game 3min. 5/31/05

1. c4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3 {Liedmann Gambit} Nf6 {Black declines the gambit pawn } 4. exd4 d5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Nf3 O-O 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Nxc3 {I do not believe this move is good for Black because it actually strengthens Whites pawn at d4 after bxc3.} 11. bxc3 Qxe7 12. Bd3 {repositioning the B which is more usefull at d3 than at c4 where it is hitting the pawn at e6.} Nc6 13. O-O Bd7 14. Re1 Qa3 15. Qd2 {guarding the c pawn & a pawn, the other move Rac1 drops the a pawn} Rac8 16. Rac1 {further over protecting the pawn at c3} Na5 17. Ne5 Ba4 (17... Qd6 18. Qg5 Nc6 19. Qh4 h6 20. Nc4 Qc7 21. Qe4 g6 22. Rb1 Kg7 23. Re3 Rb8 24. Rg3 Be8 25. Ne3 Ne7 26. c4 Bc6 27. d5 Bd7 28. Qd4+ e5 29. Qxa7 f5 30. Qa3 Ng8 31. d6 Qd8 32. Qb2 Qf6 33. Qb6 e4 34. Nd5 Qe5 35. f4 exf3 36. Rxf3 Nf6 37. Re3 Nxd5 38. Rxe5 Nxb6 39. Rxb6 Kf6 40. Re7 Bc6 {+- 1.79 Deep Fritz 8}) 18. Qe3 Rxc3 {?? a horrendous error, Black cannot do this because he drops the R at c3 or drops the Q after 18...Rxc3 19.Qxc3 Bxh7+.} 19. Rxc3 1-0

Evilone (1905) – Tareef (1908) Playchess.com Game 5min. 2/28/05

1. c4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3 Nf6 {Black declines the gambit pawn} 4. exd4 e6 5. Nc3 d5 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O dxc4 9. Bxc4 {White now has an isolated Queen Pawn.} Nc6 10. Be3 Bd7 11. Bd3 Bxc3 {Deep Fritz 8 recommended Bd6. This move is not really that good because after bxc3 White strengthens the pawn at d4.} 12. bxc3 a6 13. Qe2 h6 14. Rad1 Nd5 15. Bd2 {guarding the c pawn} Rc8 16. Ne5 b5 17. Qe4 Nf6 18. Qh4 Ne7 19. Bxh6 {a Bishop sac to blow open the Black Kingside position} Ng6 20. Nxg6 fxg6 21. Bxg6 gxh6 22. Qxh6 (22. Rd3 Kg7 23. Rg3 Ng8 24. Be4+ Kh8 25. Qh5 Be8 26. Qe5+ Qf6 27. Qd6 Rd8 28. Qc7 Rf7 29. Qa5 Qe7 30. Qxa6 e5 31. dxe5 Qxe5 32. Qg6 Rg7 33. Qb6 Rxg3 34. hxg3 Rd7 35. Bc2 Bf7 36. Bb3 Bxb3 37. axb3 {-/+ 1.26 Deep Fritz 8}) 22... Qe7 23. Rd3 Qg7 24. Qg5 Nh7 {? a critical error, Black went from winning to losing with this move.} 25. Bxh7+ Kxh7 26. Rh3+ Kg8 27. Qh4 Rf6 28. Re1 Rg6 29. Rg3 Rxg3 30. hxg3 Rxc3 31. Re5 Rc1+ 32. Kh2 Qf7 {? an error which loses the game} (32... Be8 33. Rxe6 Rc8 34. Rxa6 Rc6 35. Rxc6 Bxc6 36. d5 Bd7 37. Qd8+ Kh7 38. Qc7 Qf7 39. Qe5 Qg6 40. f3 Qh6+ 41. Kg1 Qc1+ 42. Kh2 Qh6+ 43. Kg1 {= probably a draw by repetition}) 33. Rh5 Qxf2

Position after 33…Qxf2

34. Rh8+ Kf7 35. Qh7+ Kf6 36. Rf8+ Kg5 37. Qg7+ {it is now mate next move with 37...Kh5 38.Rh8 check mate.} 1-0

BLACK DECLINES GAMBIT WITH 3…Qc7

Evilone (1896) – Bazil (1964) Playchess.com Game 5min. 8/1/05

1. c4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3 {Liedmann Gambit} Qc7 4. Nf3 e6 5. exd4 {Black has declined the Liedmann Gambit} a6 6. Nc3 b6 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. O-O d6 9. Be3 {White is very close to reaching full development} Nd7 10. Rc1 {indirectly guarding the c pawn} Ngf6 11. a3 Be7 12. b4 O-O 13. c5 bxc5 14. dxc5 dxc5 15. Na4 Rad8 16. Nxc5 Nxc5 17. bxc5 (17. Bxc5 e5 18. Qe2 e4 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. Bc4 a5 21. Rb1 Nd5 22. Bxd5 Rxd5 23. Rfe1 f5 24. Qa2 a4 25. Rbc1 Kh8 26. Qc2 Rc8 27. Qb2 Rcd8 28. Qc3 Kg8 29. Qc2 Qf6 30. Qxa4 exf3 31. Qb3 fxg2 32. Rc7 Bc6 33. Qc4 Bb5 34. Qc3 {-+ 5.86 Deep Fritz 8}) 17... Bxf3 18. gxf3 (18. Qxf3 {?} Rxd3 {-+ 4.68 this drops a piece}) 18... Qc6 19. Qe2 Rd5 20. Bxa6 Rh5 21. f4 Qc7 22. Rfd1 g5 23. f3 {to guard the h2 square} gxf4 24. Bd4 Nd5 25. Kh1 Rg5 26. Rg1 h6 27. Qe4 {White plans to play Bd3 to penetrate the Black Kingside position.} Bf6 28. Bd3 {threatening checkmate at h7} Rd8 29. Qh7+ Kf8 30. Bxf6 (30. Qxh6+ Ke7 31. Bxf6+ Nxf6 32. Qxg5 Rxd3 33. c6 Rd5 34. Qg2 Rd6 35. Qc2 Kf8 36. Qb2 Nd5 37. Qh8+ Ke7 38. Qh4+ Nf6 39. Qxf4 Rd7 40. Qb4+ Rd6 41. Rg5 Nd5 42. Qh4 Nf6 43. Rgc5 {+- 12.97 Deep Fritz 8}) 30... Nxf6 31. Qxh6+ 1-0

BLACK DECLINES GAMBIT WITH 3…e5

Aumaster – Bagger ICS game/chess.net INT 10/19/99

1. d4 c5 2. c4 cxd4 3. e3 {Liedmann Gambit} e5 {Black declines the gambit} 4. exd4 d6 5. dxe5 dxe5 6. Qxd8+ Kxd8 7. Nf3 f6 8. Nc3 Bb4 {Bd2 was much better, because White will not get doubled & isolated pawns on the d file.} 9. Be2 Be6 10. Kf1 {again White should have played Bd2 followed with 0-0-0} Bxc3 11. bxc3 Nd7 12. Ba3 Ne7 13. Bd3 Nc6 14. Ke2 Kc7 15. Nd2 b6 16. f3 Nc5 17. Rhd1 Rhd8 18. Bxc5 bxc5 19. Ne4 Bf5 (19... Na5 20. Nxc5 Bxc4 21. Bxc4 Rxd1 22. Ne6+ Kc6 23. Bb5+ Kxb5 24. Rxd1 Kc6 {= according to Deep Fritz 8}) 20. Nxc5 Bxd3+ 21. Rxd3 Rxd3 22. Nxd3 Rb8 23. Kd2 f5 24. Kc2 e4 25. fxe4 fxe4 26. Nc5 e3 27. Re1 Re8 28. Nb3 Kd6 29. Nd4 Kc5 30. Nxc6 Kxc6 31. Kd3 Kc5 32. Rxe3 Rd8+ 33. Kc2 Kxc4 34. Re4+ Kc5 35. Rg4 (35. Re7 a6 36. Rxg7 {+- 6.00 Deep Fritz 8}) 35... Rd7 36. Rh4 Rf7 37. Rxh7 Rf2+ 38. Kb3 Rxg2 39. h4 a5 40. h5 a4+ 41. Kxa4 Rxa2+ 42. Kb3 Rg2 43. h6 gxh6 44. Rxh6 Kb5 45. Rh5+ Kc6 46. Kb4 Rg4+ 47. c4 Rg1 48. Rh6+ Kc7 49. Kb5 Rb1+ 50. Kc5 Rg1 51. Rh7+ Kc8 52. Kb5 Rg6 53. c5 Kb8 54. Rf7 Kc8 55. Re7 Kb8 56. Rd7 Kc8 57. Rd6 Rxd6 58. cxd6 Kd7 59. Kc5 Kd8 60. Kd5 Kc8 61. Ke5 Kd8 62. Ke6 {= Deep Fritz 8, The move is 62...Ke8. The other move 62...Kc8 loses to Ke7. This game is drawn. I am not sure why Black resigned.} 1-0

Black Declines Gambit with 3…d3

I recently played a Liedmann Gambit Declined game on playchess.com. My opponents playchess.com name was "Snuggles" but his real name was Stefan Ulrich from Germany. I checked his bio and was surprised that he was an international correspondence chess master with an ICCF rating of 2569. The game was really a tough game until my opponent blundered on move 34 which dropped the exchange. I went on to win that
game. See game below.

DarthMusashi (1936) – Snuggles (1930) Playchess.com Game 5m+10s 3/11/07

1. c4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3 {the Liedmann Gambit} d3 {Black declines the Liedmann Gambit} 4. Bxd3 e6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. e4 {+/= 0.53, the game has now effectively transposed into a Sicilian Maroczy Bind type of position} d6 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8. O-O Be7 9. Qe2 a6 10. Bg5 (10. h3 h6 11. Be3 Ne5 12. Nxe5 dxe5 13. b3 O-O 14. Rfd1 Nd7 15. Na4 Bf6 16. c5 Qe7 17. Rac1 Kh7 18. c6 bxc6 19. Rxc6 Rd8 20. Bc4 Qb4 21. Qh5 Qf8 22. Nc5 Nxc5 23. Bxc5 Rxd1+ 24. Qxd1 Be7 25. b4 Rb8 26. Rc7 Bxc5 27. bxc5 Rb7 28. Rxb7 Bxb7 29. Qd6 Qc8 {+- 1.39 Deep Junior 10}) 10... Qc7 11. Rac1 b6 {Black shifted into a hedge hog type of position with pawns at a6, b6, d6 & e6.} 12. Rfd1 O-O 13. h3 {to prevent Ng4} Bb7 14. Be3 Rac8 15. b4 Qb8 16. Bf4 Qa8 {the "Reti" Queen, putting pressure on the e pawn} 17. Re1 Rfe8 18. a3 d5 19. cxd5 exd5 20. e5 Bf8 (20... Ne4 21. Nxe4 dxe4 22. Bxe4 Bxe4 23. Qxe4 Qxe4 24. Rxe4 b5 {+/- 1.05 Deep Junior 10}) 21. Qa2 {I expected Black to play Ne4 and then after exchanging N's I could play Bc4 attacking the pawn at f7} Ne4 22. Nxe4 dxe4 23. Bc4 exf3 (23... Rxc4 24. Qxc4 exf3 25. Qd4 Rd8 26. Bg5 f6 27. exf6 Nxf6 28. Qe5 Rd6 29. gxf3 Nd7 30. Qf4 h6 31. Be7 Rg6+ 32. Kf1 Bxf3 33. Re3 Bh5 34. Qe4 Qxe4 35. Rxe4 Bf3 36. Re3 Bg2+ 37. Ke1 Bxe7 38. Rxe7 Bxh3 39. Rc7 Re6+ 40. Rxe6 Bxe6 {-+2.16 Deep Junior 10}) 24. Bxf7+ Kh8 25. Bxe8 Rxe8 26. e6 Nf6 27. g3 (27. gxf3 Bd5 28. Qc2 Bxf3 29. Re3 Bh1 30. f3 Bxf3 31. Qb2 Be7 32. Rf1 Be4 {-+ 2.21 Deep Junior 10}) 27... Bd5 28. Qc2 Bxe6 29. Kh2 Qd5 30. g4 Bd6 31. Bxd6 Qxd6+ 32. Kg1 a5 33. bxa5 bxa5 34. a4 Nd5 35. Rcd1 h5 36. Qe4 (36. Qg6 Re7 37. Qxh5+ Kg8 38. Rxd5 Bxd5 39. Rxe7 Qxe7 40. Qxd5+ Kh7 41. Qxa5 {+- 2.52 Deep Junior 10}) 36... Qf4 {?? this loses the game}

Position after 36…Qf4

37. Rxd5 Qxe4 38. Rxe4 hxg4 39. hxg4 Kg8 40. Rde5 Kf7 41. Rf4+ Ke7 42. Rxf3 Kd6 43. Rxa5 Rh8 44. Rd3+ Ke7 45. f3 Rb8 46. Re3 Kf7 47. Ra7+ Kf6 48. Ra6 Re8 49. Kf2 Kf7 50. Ra7+ Kf6 51. Kg3 g5 52. Ra6 Kf7 53. a5 {it is already won. All White has to do is take the B at e6 and exchange Rooks off and the a pawn will Queen} 1-0

CONCLUSION

In this article I have attempted to show the different type of Black setups that can occur in the Gambit Accepted lines and also a few different Gambit Declined lines. The Liedmann Gambit is part of a gambit opening system with 1.c4 that I have been playing in blitz games on Playchess.com. I believe it is also a good gambit to play in a tournament game.

What really is the Liedmann Gambit? In the Liedmann Gambit Accepted lines you seem to have Sicilian Defense (1.e4 c5) type of positions from the Black side but the difference here is that because White sacs a pawn, the e-pawn is usually missing and White has more mobility for his pieces. It is like White is playing a Maroczy bind type of position (White has the c- and e-pawns and a half open e-file and Black has the half open c-file) without the e-pawn.

This gambit is very dangerous for Black to handle because White can very quickly setup for a quick strike attack. It seems that both sides are playing different types of games. Black is playing a semi-open game and White is playing an open game.

I believe White has the edge because Black cannot quickly mobilize his forces to guard the other side of the board to stop White’s attack. Black will really have to play tough defense to stay alive.

White can also play positionally by advancing White’s queenside pawns and squeezing Black for space to tie down Black’s pieces on the Queenside. Then White can switch his attack to the kingside castled position.

The Liedmann Gambit Declined lines seems to lead to Queens Gambit type of positions. There are very few sample games of declined lines. At this point in time I cannot say whether the White side has an advantage in the Gambit Declined lines. This will have to be explored further.

REFERENCES

Yahoo Unorthodox Chess Openings Newsgroup
Message Number: 5378, 5481, 5492, 6085, 6125, 6351
Files section: Liedmann1.pgn – 1 game with notes

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