C38 King’s Gambit Accepted: Traditional Variation
C38 holds six named lines, all under the name King’s Gambit. It leaves C37 (King’s Gambit Accepted: King’s Knight’s Gambit) with 4...Bg7. White has two minor pieces off their first squares, level for the most of the 10 King’s Gambit codes. When the reference line ends, Black is one pawn up on material. White, to move in that position, has 35 legal moves, the second-highest count of the 10 King’s Gambit codes.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | e4 | e5 |
| 2 | f4 | exf4 |
| 3 | Nf3 | g5 |
| 4 | Bc4 | Bg7 |
Moves only C38 plays
Same as C37 up to 4.Bc4, then:
- 4...Bg7 The bishop leaves f8 for g7, guarding the rook on h8.
Lines filed under C38
All six share the start 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 and then split two ways at Black’s move 3.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies | At the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| King’s Gambit Accepted: Traditional Variation | 3...g5 4.Bc4 Bg7 | 8 | Black +1 |
| King’s Gambit Accepted: Hanstein Gambit | 3...g5 4.Bc4 Bg7 5.O-O | 9 | Black +1, White castled |
| King’s Gambit Accepted: Philidor Gambit | 3...g5 4.Bc4 Bg7 5.h4 | 9 | Black +1 |
| King’s Gambit Accepted: Mayet Gambit | 3...g5 4.Bc4 Bg7 5.d4 d6 6.c3 | 11 | Black +1 |
| King’s Gambit Accepted: Philidor Gambit, Schultz Variation | 3...h6 4.Bc4 d6 5.d4 g5 6.h4 Bg7 7.Qd3 | 13 | Black +1 |
| King’s Gambit Accepted: Greco Gambit | 3...g5 4.Bc4 Bg7 5.h4 h6 6.d4 d6 7.Nc3 c6 8.hxg5 hxg5 9.Rxh8 Bxh8 10.Ne5 | 19 | Black +1 |
The road to C38
- 1.e4 … 3.Nf3five earlier stops: B00, C20, C30, C33, C34
- 3...g5C34 King’s Knight’s Gambit
- 4.Bc4C37 King’s Knight’s Gambit
- 4...Bg7C38
The position after 4...Bg7
White has brought out the knight on f3 and bishop on c4; Black the bishop on g7. White has a half-open f-file; Black a half-open e-file. White could capture with Bxf7+, Nxg5.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| C34 | King’s Gambit Accepted: King’s Knight’s Gambit | five squares: f1, c4, g5, g7, f8 |
| C35 | King’s Gambit Accepted: Cunningham Defense | five squares: f1, c4, g5, e7, g7 |
| C39 | King’s Gambit Accepted: King’s Knight’s Gambit | six squares: f1, h2, c4, h4, g7, f8 |
| C33 | King’s Gambit Accepted | seven squares: f1, g1, f3, c4, g5, g7, f8 |
| C36 | King’s Gambit Accepted: Modern Defense | seven squares: f1, c4, d5, g5, d7, g7, f8 |
| C23 | Bishop’s Opening | eight squares: g1, f2, f3, f4, e5, g5, g7, f8 |
| C40 | King’s Knight Opening | eight squares: f1, f2, c4, f4, e5, g5, g7, f8 |