Theoria
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English Opening

King's English Variation, Bellon Gambit

A22gambitoffbeattactical

  1. 1.c4e5
  2. 2.Nc3Nf6
  3. 3.Nf3e4
  4. 4.Ng5b5
123 games39%59%

A rare gambit in the King's English in which Black meets 4. Ng5 with 4...b5, offering a wing pawn to undermine c4 and fight for the center.

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About the Bellon Gambit

The Bellon Gambit arises in the King's English after 3. Nf3 e4 4. Ng5, when Black ignores the attack on the e4-pawn and plays 4...b5, offering a wing pawn to undermine White's c4-pawn. The engine gives White a slight edge and prefers 5. d3 over the more popular 5. Ngxe4 and 5. cxb5. Black nevertheless scores heavily in practice, and 5. d3 is the only common reply after which White wins more often than not.

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