Theoria
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Ruy Lopez

Morphy Defense, Norwegian Variation, Nightingale Gambit

C70gambittacticaloffbeat

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.Bb5a6
  4. 4.Ba4b5
  5. 5.Bb3Na5
  6. 6.Bxf7+
196 games58%39%

A sharp sideline of the Norwegian Variation in which White gives up the Spanish bishop on f7 to expose Black's king rather than let the knight take it.

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About the Nightingale Gambit

The Nightingale Gambit answers the Norwegian Variation's 5...Na5 with 6. Bxf7+, giving up the bishop for a pawn and the black king's shelter instead of surrendering it to the knight. Black nearly always plays 6...Kxf7, and after 7. Nxe5 White hopes for attacking chances. Careless defense such as 7...Kf6 8. Qh5 c6 9. Qf7+ is punished. The engine rates the position after 6. Bxf7+ as balanced, and White scores well in online play.

Popular continuations