C36 King’s Gambit Accepted: Modern Defense
C36 holds four named lines, all under the name King’s Gambit. It leaves C34 (King’s Gambit Accepted: King’s Knight’s Gambit) with 3...d5. When the reference line ends, Black is one pawn up on material. Black’s pieces and pawns attack nine squares in White’s half, level for the most of the 10 King’s Gambit codes. White, to move in that position, has 30 legal moves, the fourth-highest count of the 10 King’s Gambit codes.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | e4 | e5 |
| 2 | f4 | exf4 |
| 3 | Nf3 | d5 |
Moves only C36 plays
Same as C34 up to 3.Nf3, then:
- 3...d5 The d-pawn advances two squares to d5, covering c4 and e4, opening a line for the bishop on c8 and the queen on d8.
Lines filed under C36
All four share their first six plies, the whole reference line.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies | At the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| King’s Gambit Accepted: Modern Defense | (the shared start itself) | 6 | Black +1 |
| King’s Gambit Accepted: Modern Defense | 4.exd5 | 7 | |
| King’s Gambit Accepted: Abbazia Defense | 4.exd5 Nf6 | 8 | |
| King’s Gambit Accepted: Abbazia Defense, Main Line | 4.exd5 Nf6 5.Bb5+ c6 6.dxc6 bxc6 7.Bc4 Nd5 | 14 |
King’s Gambit Accepted: Modern Defense
- 4.exd5 The e-pawn takes the pawn on d5, covering c6 and e6.
King’s Gambit Accepted: Abbazia Defense
- 4.exd5 The e-pawn takes the pawn on d5, covering c6 and e6.
- 4...Nf6 The knight leaves g8 for f6, opening a line for the rook on h8.
King’s Gambit Accepted: Abbazia Defense, Main Line
- 4.exd5 The e-pawn takes the pawn on d5, covering c6 and e6.
- 4...Nf6 The knight leaves g8 for f6, opening a line for the rook on h8.
- 5.Bb5+ The bishop leaves f1 for b5, opening a line for the rook on h1, giving check.
- 5...c6 The c-pawn advances to c6, covering b5 and d5, opening a line for the queen on d8, attacking the bishop on b5.
- 6.dxc6 The d-pawn takes the pawn on c6, covering b7 and d7.
The road to C36
- 1.e4 … 2.f4three earlier stops: B00, C20, C30
- 2...exf4C33 King’s Gambit Accepted
- 3.Nf3C34 King’s Knight’s Gambit
- 3...d5C36
The position after 3...d5
White has brought out the knight on f3; Black has not yet moved a knight or bishop. White has a half-open f-file; Black a half-open e-file. White could capture with exd5.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| C31 | King’s Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit | four squares: g1, f3, f4, e5 |
| C33 | King’s Gambit Accepted | four squares: g1, f3, d5, d7 |
| C35 | King’s Gambit Accepted: Cunningham Defense | four squares: d5, d7, e7, f8 |
| A06 | Zukertort Opening | five squares: e2, f2, e4, f4, e7 |
| B01 | Scandinavian Defense | five squares: g1, f2, f3, f4, e7 |
| C40 | King’s Knight Opening | five squares: f2, f4, d5, e5, d7 |
| C41 | Philidor Defense | five squares: f2, f4, d5, e5, d6 |