What is the Deadliest Gambit in Chess?

{"type"=>"root", "children"=>[{"type"=>"paragraph", "children"=>[{"type"=>"text", "value"=>"With the White pieces, "}, {"url"=>"https://www.houseofstaunton.com/foxy-openings-volume-159-the-vienna-gambit-andrew-martin?srsltid=AfmBOootqdnxZ-nAo7G0kr7sUXpvj4OCa2yHQfA_oes9_HT0TSxUpP6B", "type"=>"link", "children"=>[{"type"=>"text", "value"=>"the Vienna Gambit"}]}, {"type"=>"text", "value"=>" is one of the most successful gambits at amateur level. Like the Deutz Gambit, it scores White"}, {"url"=>"http://lichess.org/", "type"=>"link", "children"=>[{"type"=>"text", "value"=>" around 60 points from 100 games in online matches"}]}, {"type"=>"text", "value"=>", "}, {"type"=>"text", "value"=>"but can be played more frequently against Black's typical moves", "bold"=>true}, {"type"=>"text", "value"=>"."}, {"type"=>"text", "value"=>"With the Black pieces, the Rousseau Gambit is extremely effective and is by far the highest-scoring answer to the Italian game for Black."}]}]}

Is the Englund Gambit a Good Opening?

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Is the King’s Gambit a Good Opening?

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Is the Danish Gambit Worth It?

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Surprise Black With The Deutz Gambit

Known by a few chess players, the Deutz Gambit is a Tremendous opening that has one of the highest win rates for White. Scoring a whopping 60% in amateur chess games, this daring twist to the Italian Game makes an exciting way to startle your opponent in the first few moves.

Here, you’ll learn how to crush almost every line Black may try. At the end, we’ll also show you one of the rare ways to refute the opening if a gutsy opponent ever tries to do the Deutz on you!

The Deutz Gambit Introduction and Statistics

The Deutz Gambit is a rare line of the Italian Game that begins on move five. Unexpectedly, White decides to sacrifice its queen's pawn:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d4

A chessboard diagram showing the Deutz Gambit — The Deutz Gambit demands that Black accepts the sacrifice - but how?

From here, Black has three possible ways to accept the gambit (for not accepting is the worst of all!). Statistics from over a million amateur games played on lichess.org show us how Black's various options compare:

5...exd4 – played in 61% of games. White wins 62/100 points
5...Nxd4 – played in 10% of games. White wins 61/100 points
5...Bxd4 – played in 26% of games. White wins 51/100 points

The Three Replies to the Deutz Gambit

Let’s take a closer look at each line and find out how to crush all three!

If Black Plays 5…exd4

In 63% of games, Black plays the seemingly natural move 5...exd4 – but this is a mistake! By doing so, Black cedes its e5 square to White. White duly pushes its king’s pawn, 6.e5, challenging Black’s knight.

Now, where will the knight go? 6...Ne4 is not an option, since 7.Qe2 wins the knight!

A chessboard diagram showing the Deutz Gambit 5...exd4 — Nowhere to go: Black's knight faces the prospect of returning to square one!

6...Ng4 is a more popular choice, but now White can play a well-known trick! 7.Bxf7+ forces Black’s king onto f7 (7...Kxf7), from where 8.Ng5 wins White the knight. The two sides are now equal on material, but Black has lost castling rights and is left exposed to fast-paced attacks on its king.

6...d5

If Black is smart, instead of moving its knight away, it will counter-strike with 6...d5, hitting your light-squared bishop. In this case, capture the knight anyway and try the following line to put you strong stead: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. exf6 dxc4 8.Re1+ Be6 9. fxg7 Rg8 10. Bg5

A chessboard diagram showing the Deutz Gambit exd4 on Move 10. — Seeing ahead: Notice how f6 is vulnerable to a classic fork in the following moves

Now Black is attacked from many angles. If your opponent tries to play a natural move like 10...Qd5, it’s unprotected by the pinned bishop, and so 11.Nc3 attacks the queen again. Now try to get that same knight to f6 for some devastating double attacks!

If Black Plays 5…Nxd4

5...Nxd4 is only played in 10% of games. It’s a weak move for Black because it leaves its e5 pawn hanging. White captures the free pawn (6.Nxe5) and immediately threatens 7.Nxf7. Black usually defends this by castling. Your winning move now is 7.Be3:

A chessboard diagram showing the Deutz Gambit 5...Nxd4 trap. — Upon playing 7.Be3, White wins more than 80% of games!

Notice how Black’s knight is skewered! If your opponent tries to guard the bishop, (7...Ne3), you simply take the knight first (8.Bxe3). Then, if Black still tries to avoid losing material with 8...Bxe3, play 9.Bxf7+ and you’ll score the bishop along with a winning position.

If Black Plays 5...Bxd4

Black’s best response to the Deutz Gambit is 5...Bxd4. But your opponent isn’t out of the woods yet! Many more traps lie in wait going forward.

Start by trading pieces on d4 (6.Nxd4 Nxd4) and continue with 7.Bg5. Now, a lot of opponents will continue by chasing your bishop away (7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 g5), but this is a grave mistake! Your eye-popping move now is 9.f4. Let’s take a closer look, what should Black do?

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d4 Bxd4 6. Nxd4 Nxd4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. f4

A chessboard diagram showing the Deutz Gambit 5...Bxd4 trap. — In many lines, f2-f4 is powerful for White. On this occasion, it's downright deadly!

9...gxh4

Black’s most common response is to grab your bishop: 9...gxh4, but 10.fxe5 makes things very complicated! Notice how you’re now hitting both knights simultaneously, and your bishop and rook are both firing at f7. Black must be very careful to avoid a quick checkmate or losing substantial material in the next few moves.

9...gxf4?

Alternatively, Black may try to keep things more solid with 9...gxf4. This time, your response is going to be even more spectacular! Capture back with your rook. Yes, that's 10.Rxf4! After 11.exf4 Qxd4, it’s not difficult to see why White’s left in a winning position!

A chessboard diagram showing the Deutz Gambit: 10.Rxf4 — White's bold rook sacrifice promises to pay back handsomely

The Best Way to Play the Deutz Gambit as Black

The Deutz Gambit is so ruthless that you might be wondering how Black can play it without suffering terrible losses. But for savvy opponents, there's even a way for Black to win a definite advantage! This is why the Deutz Gambit hasn’t gained traction at master level.

As we’ve already discussed, accepting the gambit with the bishop (5...Bxd4) is Black’s strongest move. Now, if White follows with the best moves suggested above: 6. Nxd4 Nxd4 7. Bg5, notice how Black’s knight stands in an imposing position on d4, threatening c2.

Let’s see how chess masters capitalize on this! In this example game between FIDE Masters Genocchio, D. (2361) and Barp, A. (2374) in 2022, Barp wins the game by forcing a queen exchange, thereby removing the defender of c2 and winning a favorable material exchange:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d4 Bxd4 6. Nxd4 Nxd4 7. Bg5 d6 8. f4 Bg4!

A chessboard diagram showing the best way for Black to play the Deutz Gambit! — After queens are traded, c2 is left hanging!

Play continues: 9. Bxf6 Bxd1 10. Bxd8 Rxd8 11. Rxd1 Nxc2 12. Nc3 Nxa1 13. Rxa1 exf4 14. Nd5 c6 15.Nxf4

A chessboard diagram showing the outcome of a master game in the Deutz Gambit. — After the exchange, Black is only one point up on material – but significant enough to win the game.

A similar pattern can be found in several other master games. Despite playing the best moves, White comes out a point down. Black is left with a marked advantage and should be able to win the game.

Our Verdict: Is the Deutz Gambit Worth It for White?

After our final analysis, you might be questioning whether the Deutz Gambit is really such a good opening for White after all! If Black plays the right moves, your opponent gains an advantage that could win the game.

In conclusion, the Deutz Gambit isn’t such a strong opening for Chess Grandmasters, which is why it remains somewhat obscure. At club level, however, the opening boasts one of the highest win rates of any for White. The endless traps that White can play against the multitude of lines mean you have an excellent chance of ensnaring your opponent, or otherwise of winning a forbidding position.

For attacking, club level players, the Deutz Gambit is a golden opening, well worth playing any time your opponent hands you the opportunity!

Frequently Asked Questions

With the White pieces, the Vienna Gambit is one of the most successful gambits at amateur level. Like the Deutz Gambit, it scores White around 60 points from 100 games in online matches, but can be played more frequently against Black's typical moves.With the Black pieces, the Rousseau Gambit is extremely effective and is by far the highest-scoring answer to the Italian game for Black.

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