8765432abcdefgh1

Bird Opening

Hobbs Gambit

A02gambitoffbeataggressive

  1. 1.f4g5
1,787 games50%47%

The Hobbs Gambit, 1...g5 against the Bird Opening, is a rare and dubious pawn offer that tries to open the g-file and exploit White's loosened kingside.

Train it in Theoria

About the Hobbs Gambit

The Hobbs Gambit answers 1. f4 with 1...g5, offering a pawn to attack White's f-pawn and open lines on the kingside before White has castled. The usual reply is 2. fxg5, after which 2...h6 seeks compensation in the manner of a mirrored Benko Gambit. White can calmly give the pawn back with 3. g6, and the recapture 3...fxg6 leaves Black's kingside loose. White scores well in practice, and the engine gives White a slight edge.

Popular continuations