Theoria
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Nimzowitsch Defense

Kennedy Variation, Herford Gambit

B00gambitoffbeataggressive

  1. 1.e4Nc6
  2. 2.d4e5
  3. 3.dxe5Qh4
103 games50%46%

A rare gambit in the Kennedy Variation of the Nimzowitsch Defense in which Black leaves a pawn on e5 and plays an early queen sortie to h4.

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About the Herford Gambit

In the Herford Gambit, Black answers 3. dxe5 with 3...Qh4 instead of recapturing with 3...Nxe5. White keeps an extra pawn, though the pawns on e4 and e5 are doubled, and the queen immediately targets e4. White usually defends that pawn with 4. Nc3 or 4. Bd3, or gains time by attacking the queen with 4. Nf3. The engine gives White a clear advantage, and the line is rarely seen.

Popular continuations