The Halloween Gambit - Ideas and Concepts | The Best Win Rate in the Four Knights Game!

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  • Опубліковано 19 чер 2024
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    The Halloween Gambit performs surprisingly well in practice! It actually has the highest win rate of all the possible moves for white in the 4 Knights Game. I've tried this gambit several times lately with surprising results. In this video I'll break down the ideas and concepts behind the Halloween Gambit and why you should give it a try!
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 179

  • @DunklerZebralord
    @DunklerZebralord 2 роки тому +304

    Gotta be honest that wall of 8 pawns was seriously impressive

  • @misharatkevich9808
    @misharatkevich9808 2 роки тому +203

    A lot of unsound tricky openings have very specific tactics going on, and if they miss, it just fails completely. Halloween Gambit is interesting in that there's no way it's sound (both engine and theory agree on this) but the positional compensation is actually long-term and not just "avoid these traps". That gives it a different feel.

    • @stkosta2482
      @stkosta2482 Рік тому +1

      Most gambits are like that tbh

    • @DavidEmerling79
      @DavidEmerling79 Рік тому

      That's often the term used to say that the position is roughly equal and there's not much theory from this point on.

  • @AiR1DaN
    @AiR1DaN 2 роки тому +103

    My #2 favorite gambit besides the Evan's Gambit. Thank you for posting!
    Would love to see the Frankenstein-Dracula variation :)

  • @TeeGar
    @TeeGar 2 роки тому +408

    I'm always amused by the phrase "now we're just playing chess" that's used in many of these and other chess videos I've seen. Arent we all just playing chess from move 1?

    • @ChessVibesOfficial
      @ChessVibesOfficial  2 роки тому +261

      It just means that you're not in any opening lines any more.

    • @escapedlunatic27
      @escapedlunatic27 2 роки тому +53

      I think most for the first 20 moves or so of many GM games, both of them are checking whether the other can remember what they prepared.

    • @suburbanindie
      @suburbanindie 2 роки тому +9

      @@ChessVibesOfficial Mid-game, essentially.

    • @georgebush6002
      @georgebush6002 2 роки тому +36

      Some of my games make me question if I am playing chess

    • @davidsandrock7826
      @davidsandrock7826 2 роки тому +10

      @@ChessVibesOfficial So “now we’re playing chess” means “business as usual”?

  • @DavidEmerling79
    @DavidEmerling79 Рік тому +55

    I think that one sentence sums up the Halloween Gambit quite succinctly: "It's surprisingly playable." I know I've lost to it more than I've successfully defended against it. Usually, players who play the Halloween Gambit know a lot about it. There's very few defensive tries that they have not considered. It actually may be best to just give back the piece with a positional advantage. If nothing else, it will frustrate the hell out your opponent who was probably hoping for a lot of tactical opportunities.

    • @tintinyoutube2787
      @tintinyoutube2787 Рік тому

      One sentence?

    • @doodmcswood507
      @doodmcswood507 Рік тому +2

      @@tintinyoutube2787 Yea- "It's surprisingly playable." Then he talked about it more in depth after giving the one-sentence summary.

    • @suba5779
      @suba5779 Рік тому

      ⁠​⁠@@tintinyoutube2787u fr gunna wait for someone to sum it up rather than just read the rest in 20 seconds

  • @obrray-5519
    @obrray-5519 2 роки тому +22

    Literally played this right after watching the vid and it ended in a crazy mate. Thank you for the fun ideas. You’re making chess 10 times more fun.

  • @shambhav9534
    @shambhav9534 2 роки тому +47

    There's actually a double Halloween which is double worse. It can be played when black responds to the Italian with the 2 knights defence and then we sack the Italian light bishop for the f7 pawn and then sac the knight for the e5 pawn. Then play d4, e5, castle, then f4. Go on a pawn storm attack. It's bad but works great in bullet or hype bullet where the pawns act as spikes. Stockfish, on moderate depth actually gives the knight back. Here's a sample main line:
    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Bxf7+ Kxf7 5. Nxe5+ Nxe5 6. d4 Ng6 7. e5
    Ng8 8. O-O d5 9. f4 *

    • @shambhav9534
      @shambhav9534 2 роки тому +6

      If anyone's wondering, as far as I know, I discovered this piece of junk.

    • @frostypotatos180
      @frostypotatos180 2 роки тому +10

      honestly it seems kinda like the jerome except even more unsound

    • @shambhav9534
      @shambhav9534 2 роки тому +9

      @@frostypotatos180 It was indeed inspired by an idiot who tried to probably play the Jerome in the 2 knights. 😂. It does work even better than Jerome in bullet though. I've tried. Most of the time the opponent is so startled by the pawn storm in the centre that you win on time or get a pawn fork.

    • @temporarynickname
      @temporarynickname 2 роки тому +1

      Its just a jerome gambit but d4 instead of Qh5 (Qh5 is better)

    • @shambhav9534
      @shambhav9534 2 роки тому +1

      @@temporarynickname Qh5 is blunder, not better.

  • @PabloLopezDuque
    @PabloLopezDuque 2 роки тому +11

    2 opponents hsve played this gambit against me, I always fall for it, I didnt know it was an actual gambit 😂
    Nelson could you do a video explainning the main ideas an principles behind the Scotch Opening? Please!

  • @Yepitsmedude
    @Yepitsmedude 2 роки тому +3

    Need a book about this 💯 one of the best chess videos I’ve seen

  • @krishnathiagarajan8290
    @krishnathiagarajan8290 2 роки тому +2

    I'm going to start playing this in the Four Knights! Thanks, Nelson!

  • @OregonMikeH
    @OregonMikeH Рік тому +2

    Hay YA Nelson, thanks for such a smooth Demo and expanding on the Gambit with the extended, exceptional Pawn Play. Presented so well, friend, it's not a Video I'll forget. As Always, Positive Vibes your way from Oregon with much gratitude, Mike.

  • @unnamed7225
    @unnamed7225 2 роки тому +7

    Nelson: we're not playing computers, we're playing people
    cheater: *laughs in Nc7#*

  • @twinwankel
    @twinwankel 2 роки тому +1

    Excellent video. Thanks.

  • @danielengelhardt7453
    @danielengelhardt7453 2 роки тому

    Another great video!! Keep at it!!

  • @j.thomas1420
    @j.thomas1420 2 роки тому +1

    Thank you ! I will try it at my next blitz tournament. 9:44 here I recommand the very strong *11.f4 !* wich set a lot of deadly traps.

  • @virdrae
    @virdrae 8 місяців тому

    My favorite opening! Got quite a few tools here (hehe) Thanks :3

  • @luxxianalux6769
    @luxxianalux6769 2 роки тому +2

    Hi happy Halloween, it is really nice to watch your video on halloween gambit on halloween. I’m new to chess and I’m really interested to have a little research on this opening and apply it to the actual gameplays. Your video clearly show me how to use this opening and set a strategy to win, which is so informative for me. The little pawns marching on are like an army of undying creatures or zombies, and surely it is not easily for black to eliminate them.. I’ve subscribed, thank you.

  • @ProMeerder
    @ProMeerder 2 роки тому +2

    I tried to learn some of the lines in this when I was about 1200. There is usually only one move that isn't losing and the ideas were just too advanced for my calculation skills. Maybe I'll try it again one day, but right now there are other fun and perhaps more instructive openings I wanna explore.

  • @Lak1148
    @Lak1148 2 роки тому +5

    Perfect timing for Halloween

  • @oldsuitman7762
    @oldsuitman7762 2 роки тому +2

    this comes up alot, will try it

  • @Jackonian
    @Jackonian Рік тому +2

    Another line I've seen which wasn't touched on here is when the knight on E5 goes to G4 after being booted by D4 or F4, - it's within scope of the queen but defended by the other knight on F6.
    If you then push the E pawn to E5 attacking that knight to boots the defender, either the F6 knight retreats and you win the G4 knight, or the G4 knight can sac for that pawn, get taken by D4/F4, and then F6 still needs to move away from the pawn attack.

  • @andreyvujkovikj2977
    @andreyvujkovikj2977 Рік тому +1

    that gambit was an epic one.Never have i ever seen a tactic this genious

  • @treschilenosch6990
    @treschilenosch6990 2 роки тому +2

    yesss finally :D I‘ve been playing this since the Eric Rosen Video and actually I‘m quite successful with it because nobody knows how to play against it

  • @varunhcr2815
    @varunhcr2815 2 роки тому +8

    Next month be like- the christmas gambit
    jk

  • @y-adouradou446
    @y-adouradou446 9 місяців тому

    Im playing it everytime i have the opportunity with the 4 knights opening. Got amazing results all the time, and it's a very simple opening to learn, with very little variations so a good weapon in the arsenal. The games are also very pleasant to play everytime

  • @idontwantmynameinhere
    @idontwantmynameinhere 2 роки тому +5

    it certainly looks interesting, and although the engine hates it (because somehow engines defend almost every position), it looks like you get quite some play for the knight. Though I had hoped you had looked at Qf3 Nh4, because to me it's unclear where the queen is going next

  • @davidmurvai40
    @davidmurvai40 7 місяців тому

    Wonderful video

  • @bekuadro
    @bekuadro 2 роки тому +1

    I'll give it a try... I'm a gambit player but never tried this one... I've always too scared to sac a whole piece! thanks

  • @funkypiano1985
    @funkypiano1985 2 роки тому +2

    Interesting gambit. I will show it to my Chess Club students tomorrow.

  • @KDlearns
    @KDlearns 2 роки тому +1

    I had a viewer challenge me to play this Gambit yesterday! He’s probably a fan of yours!

  • @cdrsmm1909
    @cdrsmm1909 2 роки тому +1

    More gambits, time to have some fun :)

  • @erickhard9379
    @erickhard9379 2 роки тому +2

    Lol, my first time giving it a try and my oponent resigned on my move 6 pawn to d5. Cool video!

  • @gabrielneyd8612
    @gabrielneyd8612 2 роки тому +1

    Halloween Gambit, a perfect gambit to use for this halloween!

  • @suburbanindie
    @suburbanindie 2 роки тому

    What program are you using to broadcast this game board? It's really cool.

  • @jeremy61313
    @jeremy61313 8 місяців тому +1

    The problem I ran into with this gambit was if black advances the bishop there's a potential checkmate in a couple moves with the queen, unless you develop the king side bishop or king side pawns on black squares. The computer found it on me and mated in like a couple moves after they advance the bishop. I was shocked until I realized that it put your king in a box without blockers, because the queen, central pawns, and knights are all out of position, but the king side bishop is on the wrong color to defend an aggressive queen.

    • @exbricadlo
      @exbricadlo 4 місяці тому

      thats what it is,
      prevent black from advancing towards your king!
      in these types, development is only a big problem for black/
      if black somehow managed to develop his bishops nicely,
      you're game 'll be dead
      'u will be lost

  • @andrewmays3988
    @andrewmays3988 Рік тому

    HEY!! You're absolutely right!!! We are playing a game to have some fun and making some questionable, unpredictable moves can give our chess buddies something to think about. The Halloween Gambit is worth a Hail Mary pass every once in awhile just to see what happens as the game unfolds. Thanks Nelson, for ideas that make Chess fun!!!😇

  • @bocz4317
    @bocz4317 2 роки тому +1

    wow that game u played is so cool

  • @CloudsArePotatoes
    @CloudsArePotatoes 8 місяців тому

    Love playing this gambit. But after moving to D4 with the pawn I’ve also seen players move the knight from E5 to Kg4 and trick the queen and the knights are connected. But in any case, white is ahead even with knight to G4.

  • @gabrielfilip3274
    @gabrielfilip3274 2 роки тому +1

    Thank you so much! I just won my first game with this gambit.

  • @nostalgia1672
    @nostalgia1672 Рік тому +1

    6:07 queen e7 pinning the pawn.

  • @seilaoquemvc2
    @seilaoquemvc2 2 роки тому +3

    lol! I went to test this out after seeing this video. and I'm 4-0-1 from that opening. lol. great stuff.

  • @cormachughes3171
    @cormachughes3171 2 роки тому +1

    So one thing I seem to encounter a lot after e5 pressuring the knight, is they play Qe7, pinning the pawn, and then it usually turns into a big mess of trading lots of pieces

  • @chx75
    @chx75 2 роки тому +1

    This is part of my repertoire too

  • @haidanglamminh9747
    @haidanglamminh9747 2 роки тому +6

    Hope to see a video about this gambit from black’s point of view

  • @reyhananiz5099
    @reyhananiz5099 2 роки тому +1

    Could you make a four knights video for black?

  • @mgutierrez6762
    @mgutierrez6762 Рік тому

    5:45 what about knight G4? The queen can’t take because it’s being defended but at the same time you can move a pawn out to kick it arround

  • @gdaleksw4041
    @gdaleksw4041 2 роки тому +4

    5:33 there is also Ng4 and the queen cant take the knight because its protected by the other knight

    • @camilococconi5249
      @camilococconi5249 2 роки тому +2

      Not really, white can follow up with e5, black would essentially be giving back the piece there, but with the White's positional advantage

  • @Johan-yy9pk
    @Johan-yy9pk 2 роки тому +2

    nice

  • @tandinghaotrephonbroadrick8362
    @tandinghaotrephonbroadrick8362 2 роки тому +3

    "oh no! my
    Caballero!
    (Edit) its spanish for knight

  • @thunderingice22
    @thunderingice22 11 днів тому

    So if they move Bb4 on move #6 then this doesn't work as well... correct? Cause that's what happened to me. Its just a trade off and fairly equal developement.

  • @themagm1673
    @themagm1673 Рік тому

    6:05, I tried this against a guy who went black, he just goes Neg4, e5 Bc5 and it gets extremely dangerous. Is there a video I could watch against that line?

  • @QDWhite
    @QDWhite 5 місяців тому

    I won a game playing this today! After I played d4, they opted for Nc6 and it didn’t work out too well for them.

  • @jaishukla6746
    @jaishukla6746 2 роки тому +1

    this is a crushing game

  • @counterreaper9521
    @counterreaper9521 2 роки тому

    I got a question if the enemy team made a different movement do I have to change my plan?

  • @austingranger4223
    @austingranger4223 2 роки тому +1

    How did you capture the pawn at 7:53? The pawn was past the other ones diagonal square. Im so confused

    • @mango143_
      @mango143_ 2 роки тому +3

      I'm late but it's a move called en passant where if a pawn moves 2 squares forwards next to your pawn you can capture it but it can only be taken on the first turn.

  • @drcgaming4195
    @drcgaming4195 2 роки тому +1

    ngl i really like the end music

  • @isaacmiller1481
    @isaacmiller1481 2 роки тому +1

    fun!!!

  • @jonniriepponen6248
    @jonniriepponen6248 2 роки тому +1

    I have heard abaut this when i studied vienna

  • @y.t1670
    @y.t1670 8 місяців тому +1

    It’s almost Halloween time 🎃 👻

  • @daniloapostolov-dacatv1536
    @daniloapostolov-dacatv1536 Рік тому

    Now we need a Christmas gambit.

  • @jashchannel8422
    @jashchannel8422 2 роки тому

    Wow,my husband's favorite game.
    Thanks for sharing 👍

  • @cudomoney
    @cudomoney Рік тому +1

    there are variations that are also good if they refuse to play the 4 nights. this can also be forced on black side and you steal tempo.
    edit: my before watching thoughts ^

  • @DanyloPyr
    @DanyloPyr 2 роки тому +1

    =D I've just tried it and it worked =DDD

  • @nblack2867
    @nblack2867 2 роки тому

    I'll probably never play this because I'm a King's Gambit player, so I don't run into this position often as White, but I'll definitely keep this in mind for black!

  • @elokee28
    @elokee28 11 днів тому

    just asking, what if knight plays g4 instead of g6 or c6?

  • @stevenvary7324
    @stevenvary7324 2 роки тому +2

    Hi Nelson.
    The nicknames from other game say somthin for you?
    Golbez
    Relfson
    Fouracle

  • @JrbWheaton
    @JrbWheaton 2 роки тому +9

    I’m guessing I’m gonna see this a lot as black over the next few weeks so I’m gonna study up on how to refute this as black ;)

    • @danneltheflannel
      @danneltheflannel 2 роки тому +1

      I think if you find a way to give a knight back, but develop one of your own pieces doing it you can play for the draw/endgame.

  • @JERRYR708
    @JERRYR708 6 місяців тому

    Sleepy Hollow Gambit where the headless horseman needs the pawns head before going back to sleep.

  • @CVHFitness
    @CVHFitness 2 роки тому +1

    10:06 what should I play if knight h4 is played (theoretically)

  • @bernardthefourth
    @bernardthefourth Рік тому

    Ha I just did this by accident and it does work.

  • @alixx_legenddark_xx2819
    @alixx_legenddark_xx2819 Рік тому

    Small question: why can’t they play Neg4 after d4?

  • @ianh3385
    @ianh3385 11 місяців тому

    I find it funny that the higher you go in Elo, the more your games look like lower Elo games. That wall of pawns looks like a tactic a 200 would do (as it feels correct). It just shows you that intuition actually transfers to real success given enough practice as you are able to appropriately defend.

  • @chrismagsmags
    @chrismagsmags 2 роки тому

    That positioning around 12:10 is super weird. Attack of the Pawns!

  • @metalcoti
    @metalcoti Рік тому

    at 6:07 which is the best move if the other player plays queen e7 pinning the pawn instead of moving the knight back?

  • @Kneem
    @Kneem 2 роки тому +4

    Oh no my repertoire!

  • @emmanuelabel1226
    @emmanuelabel1226 2 роки тому +1

    I had a game which went thus:
    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nxe5 Nxe5 5. d4 Ng6 6. e5 Ng8 7. Qf3 and then my opponent played this surprising move ... c6.
    I was totally lost after that move that I ended up playing a lot of blunders and eventually lost the game 😓.
    Please, does anyone know a good continuation to c6 after Qf3? It'll be really helpful

  • @theodale1710
    @theodale1710 2 роки тому

    6:36 How about Queen e7 so that the pawn cant take the knight?

  • @kwhd559
    @kwhd559 2 роки тому +2

    Yes it's an interesting gambit not to be underestimated. I cover for black in my upcoming chessable course.

  • @rondid
    @rondid Рік тому

    I find the main line unplayable, even if the engine gives black a -2 advantage, the correct moves are so unintuitive. So i play this (which is basically a transposition of the Scotch): 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nxe5 Nxe5 5. d4 Nc6 6. d5 Bb4 7. dxc6... Engine still gives a -0,4 advantage to black, ok it's not -2, but the following moves are so much easier to play. What do you think?

  • @keinlieb3818
    @keinlieb3818 9 місяців тому

    I just had a Halloween gambit, but I played e5 instead of d5... didn't go so well.

  • @dheyaamejri7285
    @dheyaamejri7285 9 місяців тому

    What happens if they play queen e7 instead of retreating the knight ro g8

  • @e.j.bosman7728
    @e.j.bosman7728 Рік тому

    At 4:30: Why is the Knight > G4 not an option for black?

    • @o_o4197
      @o_o4197 Рік тому

      G3, h3 pushes it back developing more pieces.

  • @rjgamer8226
    @rjgamer8226 Рік тому

    Bro what do we do after knight to g4

  •  2 роки тому +1

    How to play against this gambit?

  • @K3GNX58
    @K3GNX58 Рік тому

    Can't the knight to to g4 after we play d5?

  • @totktonadafrakc5948
    @totktonadafrakc5948 2 роки тому +1

    nice strategical succrifiece:)

  • @adrianfolie-bk8rw
    @adrianfolie-bk8rw Рік тому

    i accedantily played this opening

  • @captainphoenix
    @captainphoenix 4 місяці тому

    After Qf3, why not Nh4?

  • @D1rtyD3bra
    @D1rtyD3bra 10 місяців тому

    12:20 that looks like an absolutely miserable position for black. I think I’d just set up some type of blockade avoid trades and try and get a draw

  • @TheEthikos
    @TheEthikos Рік тому

    I don't get it. Like...I understand when you say the pawns in the middle are rough, they control a lot of space, etc. But what is stopping black from just pushing a pawn forward and forcing white to capture or stagger those pawns? I always follow along and think, yea that makes sense...get the diagonal, control the center...but then we move on and I'm thinking, "what the hell do I do now?!"

  • @sanathrayala2745
    @sanathrayala2745 9 місяців тому

    What about knight g4 you didn't cover that case

  • @jrviade85
    @jrviade85 2 роки тому +1

    I wish you knew how to play with black
    so you could do tutorials when playing with black

  • @gishinaround745
    @gishinaround745 8 місяців тому

    I’m 1400 and will be playing Halloween gambit exclusively this month wish me luck!

  • @cuber1official
    @cuber1official Рік тому

    What about Ng4?

  • @usernametaken017
    @usernametaken017 Рік тому

    When you trade queens, can't you just capture with the knight instead?

  • @io-gamer
    @io-gamer Рік тому

    what if black plays knight to e7 or f6 at 8:09

  • @abhijitchatterji7587
    @abhijitchatterji7587 Рік тому

    What if they decide to play knight to e4?

  • @michealschmidt908
    @michealschmidt908 2 роки тому

    Yes you don’t need a queen to win i have won with two rooks which is all i had left but cornered the king checkmate

  • @HeartyJoe
    @HeartyJoe 2 роки тому

    My go to gambit. Wins a lot against my average opponent (1500s)

  • @lucaspanto9650
    @lucaspanto9650 Рік тому +1

    You know you fucked up when the other guy has 8 pawns on the 4th and 5th rank