An Introduction to The Belgrade Gambit

Richard Westbrook, 2006.

The Belgrade Gambit stems from the Four 5.Nd5!? …
Knights Opening, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3
Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nd5!? It was introduced in This is the Belagrade Gambit. Or, White
the first Belgrade Championship (1945). It could play the solid:
looks strange; an opening gambit should
result in a lead in development, but White 5.Nxd4 …
violates the principle of not moving the same
piece twice before development is complete Best for Black is 5… Bb4!
The forth-coming attack is not at all obvious!
It is only after the position is studied a bit a) 5... Bc5?!
more that one realizes that Black has no easy 6.Nxc6 bxc6
way to refute White’ s play. By putting the
knight on d5 White prevents the advance of If 6... dxc6
Black’ s d-pawn to d5 which usually indicates 7.Qxd8+ Kxd8
equalization by Black in double e-pawn 8.Bg5 Be7
openings. 9.0–0–0+ Ke8
10.f3 +/=. White has a formation similar
The knight occupies an excellent outpost on to the Exchange Variation of the Ruy
d5 and aside from the cramp it puts on Lopez, but with the bishop pair!!
Black’s position it also sits poised to combine
with other pieces for a sudden attack. 7.Bd3 d5
8.exd5 cxd5
Also, the knight is not easily chased away 9.0–0 …
from its post. For instance if Black did not
have a knight on c6 he would simply play Or, 9.Qe2+ Qe7
...c7-c6 kicking the white knight out of his 10.Qxe7+ Kxe7
outpost. However to accomplish this now 11.0–0 c6
Black would first have to move the knight on 12.Ne2 with equal chances.
c6, canceling out White’ s extra knight move
in the opening. 9... 0–0
10.Bg5 with equal chances.
1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6 b) 5... Nxd4?!
3.Nc3 Nf6 6.Qxd4 d6
4.d4 exd4 7.Bg5 White has a good game.
XIIIIIIIIY
8r+lwqkvl-tr0 c) 5... Nxe4?
7zppzpp+pzpp01 6.Nxe4 Qe7
6-+n+-sn-+0 7.f3 d5
5+-+-+-+-0 8.Bb5 Bd7
4-+-zpP+-+0 9.Bxc6 bxc6
3+-sN-+N+-0 10.0–0 dxe4 +/=
2PzPP+-zPPzP0 11.fxe4! …
1tR-vLQmKL+R0
xabcdefghy Ok is 11.Re1 0–0–0
12.Rxe4 …

1
 An Introduction to The Belgrade Gambit
Richard Westbrook, 2006.
11... c5 13.Rhe1 0–0
14.Nxd4 cxd6
If 11... 0–0–0 15.Nf5 +/=
12.Qd3! … threatening Qa6+ followed
by Rf3 with a dangerous attack. 6.Qe2 …

If 11... g6!? White obtains no edge with

12.Bf4 Bg7 6.Bc4!? Be7
13.e5 +/=. 7.0–0 0–0
8.Re1 Nf6
So, after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 9.Nxe7+ …
exd4 5.Nd5!? …
XIIIIIIIIY Not 9.Rxe7? Nxe7
8r+lwqkvl-tr0 10.Nxf6+ gxf6
7zppzpp+pzpp02 11.Qxd4 d5 =/+.
6-+n+-sn-+0
5+-+N+-+-0 9... Nxe7
4-+-zpP+-+0 10.Qxd4 d5 White will have a hard time
3+-+-+N+-0 recovering the pawn.
2PzPP+-zPPzP0
1tR-vLQmKL+R0 6... f5
xabcdefghy XIIIIIIIIY
8r+lwqkvl-tr0
Black must decide on how to proceed. The 7zppzpp+-zpp03
choices are 6-+n+-+-+0
5…Nxe4; 5+-+N+p+-0
5…Nxd5?!; and the rare 4-+-zpn+-+0
5…Nb4 (not covered; play 6.Bc4) and,. 3+-+-+N+-0
5…Bc5 (not covered; play 6.Bc4) 2PzPP+QzPPzP0
1tR-vL-mKL+R0
5... Nxe4 xabcdefghy

This is Batsford Chess Opening's choice, but Most commonly played is

not the most popular. This probably indicates 7.Ng5 [Bf4!?]…
that the gambit is encountered by players not
yet strong enough to use BCO, or who simply which is strong. Black must find
are unfamiliar with the Gambit’ s theory.
7... d3!
Weaker is 5... Nxd5
6.exd5 Bb4+ Weaker, for example, is
7.Bd2 Qe7+ 7... Bb4+?
8.Qe2 Bxd2+ 8.c3 [or Nxb4] dxc3
9.Kxd2! Qxe2+ 9.bxc3 Be7
10.Bxe2 Nb4 10.Nxe4 fxe4
11.d6! Nc6 11.Qxe4 0–0
12.Kd3! b6 12.Bd3 g6

2
 An Introduction to The Belgrade Gambit
Richard Westbrook, 2006.
13.Bh6 … From Diagram 4, (with 10… c6):
White has compensation for the pawn! 11.dxe4 cxd5
For other 7th moves, see Sample Games. XIIIIIIIIY
8r+lwqkvl-tr0
8.cxd3 … 7zpp+p+-+p05
6-+-+-+p+0
Not 8.Qxd3?Nb4 5+-+p+psN-0
9.Nxb4 Bxb4+ 4-+-snP+-wQ0
10.c3 Nxg5 3+-+-+-+-0
11.cxb4 … 2PzP-+-zPPzP0
White has no compensation for the pawn or 1tR-vL-mKL+R0
shattered pawn structure. xabcdefghy
8... Nd4 We have reached a well-known position.
9.Qh5+ g6 (1) Customary has been
10.Qh4 … 12.exd5 Qa5+ (12...Bg7 13.Kd1)
XIIIIIIIIY 13.Kd1 Qxd5
8r+lwqkvl-tr0 14.Bd3 Ne6
7zppzpp+-+p04 15.Kc2 Qxg2
6-+-+-+p+0 16.Re1 Be7
5+-+N+psN-0 17.Bb5 =/+.
4-+-snn+-wQ0
3+-+P+-+-0 2) However, Fritz 8 suggests
2PzP-+-zPPzP0 12.exf5 Bg7
1tR-vL-mKL+R0
xabcdefghy If 12... Nxf5
13.Qg4;
10... c6
If 12... Qa5+
a) Just transposing is 10...Bg7 13.Kd1 Nxf5
11.dxe4 Nc2+, see below; 14.Qf4 Bd6
15.Qd2 Qa4+
b) 10... Nc2+ 16.b3 Qc6
11.Kd1 Nxa1 17.Bb2 0–0 -/+.
12.dxe4 Bg7
13.Qg3! +/- d6 13.Kd1 Nxf5
14.Nxh7! Kf7 14.Qb4 Bf6
15.Bc4! Rxh7 15.h4 h6
16.Bg5 (Weaving the net!) Be6 16.Nf3 d6
17.Bd3 0–0
Not 16... Qf8?? 18.Kc2 =/+
17.Nxc7+ d5 Computer analysis!! Black is somewhat
18.Bxd5+ Be6 better, but there is still lots of play.
19.Bxe6#.

17.Bxd8 +- White wins!

3
 An Introduction to The Belgrade Gambit
Richard Westbrook, 2006.
Sample Games XIIIIIIIIY
Prie, Eric (2360) - Haik, Aldo (2400) 8r+lwq-trk+0
Paris Open (9), 1983 7zppzppvlpzpp0
1.e4 e5 6-+n+-+-+0
2.Nf3 Nc6 5+-+N+-+-0
3.Nc3 Nf6 4-+Lzpn+-+0
4.d4 exd4 3+-+-+N+-0
5.Nd5 Be7!? 2PzPP+-zPPzP0
1tR-vLQtR-mK-0
If 5... Bb4+ xabcdefghy
6.Nxb4 [c3] Nxb4
7.e5 Qe7 8... Nf6
8.Bb5 Ng4 (8...Qc5 9.0–0!)
9.0–0. If 8... Nc5?!
9.Rxe7 Nxe7
If 5... Nxd5?! 10.Bg5 Re8
6.exd5 Bb4+ 11.Ne5 Ne6
7.Bd2 Qe7+ 12.Qh5! Full-tilt boogie! White has a winning
8.Qe2 Bxd2+ attack
9.Kxd2 Qxe2+
10.Bxe2 … If 8... Nd6!?
9.Bd3 Re8
White has the better ending! IM Polovodin
(2355) - Tseitlin (2505), 1979, continued If 9... Bf6?
10...Nb4 11.Rhe1 0–0 12.d6! c5 13.Bc4 b5 10.Nxf6+! Qxf6
14.Bxb5 Rb8 15.Bc4 Ba6 16.Ne5 Bxc4 11.Bg5! Black loses the queen!
17.Nxc4 Nc6 18.Re7! Nxe7 19.dxe7 Rfe8
20.Re1 Rb6?! (20...d5!?) 21.Nxb6 axb6 10.Bf4 White is doing OK.
22.b4!? (22.Kd3!!) 22...d6 23.a4!! f6 24.a5!
b5 25.Kd3 Kf7 26.a6 g6 27.a7 h5 28.f4 h4 9.Rxe7?! [Nxe7+, =] Nxd5!?
29.h3 f5 30.Re2 1–0. White will break up the
queenside pawns, win the survivors, and then Apparently Black wanted to avoid
march his king up the board to assist the a- 9... Nxe7
pawn, forcing Black to give up his rook. 10.Nxf6+ gxf6
11.Qxd4 d5
If 5... Bc5?! 12.Bd3 Ng6
6.Bg5 +/=. which would be a difficult position to defend.

6.Bc4 … 10.Rxf7 Rxf7

11.Bxd5 h6 To keep the N off of g5.
Michail Tal stated that this move is in the 12.Nxd4 d6
spirit of "maintaining the gambit theme." 13.Nxc6 bxc6
14.Bxf7+ Kxf7
6... 0–0 15.Qh5+ …
7.0–0 Nxe4
8.Re1 … White can win a pawn with

4
 An Introduction to The Belgrade Gambit
Richard Westbrook, 2006.
15.Qf3+ Kg8 9.Qd4! Nxd5?? [...0–0]
16.Qxc6 but the text is stronger. 10.Qxh8+ Ke7
11.Qe5+ Kf8
15... Kg8 12.Bh6+ … 1–0.
Black resigned just in time to avoid 12...Kg8
Bishops of opposite color favor the attacker!! 13.Qg7#.

16.Bxh6!! Be6 Arutyunova, Diana - Mungutuul, Batbuyag

Wch U10 Girls Cannes (10), 1997
Not 16... gxh6?? 1.e4 e5
17.Qg6+ Kh8 (17...Kf8 18.Qxh6+) 2.Nf3 Nc6
18.Qxh6+ Kg8 3.Nc3 Nf6
19.Qg6+ Kh8 (19...Kf8 20.Re1 crushes.) 4.d4 exd4
20.Re1 White wins easily. 5.Nd5 Be7?!
6.Nxd4 Nxe4?!
17.Bd2 and White won as follows: 17...Qd7
18.Re1 Rf8 19.Bc3 Rf7 20.Re4 Bf5 21.Rh4 Better is 6... Nxd5
Kf8 22.Qh8+ Ke7 23.Qa8!? [23.Ra4] 7.exd5 Nxd4
23...Qe6 24.Rh8 Qd7 25.Qxa7 c5 26.Qb8 8.Qxd4 0–0
Bxc2 27.Bxg7 [27.Rc8!] 27...Ke6 28.Bc3 9.Be2 =.
Qc6 29.Qe8+ Qxe8 30.Rxe8+ Kd7 31.Rg8
d5 32.Rg7 Ke6 33.Rxf7 Kxf7 34.Kf1 d4 7.Nf5 [White threatens Qg4!] g6?
35.Ba5 c6 36.Bb6 Ke6 37.Bxc5 Kd5 38.Ba7 8.Nfxe7 Nxe7
c5 39.Ke2 Bb1 40.a3 c4 41.Kd2 Be4 42.f3 9.Qd4! Nxd5?? [9...0–0 10.Qxe4]
Bf5 43.h4 Bg6 44.g4 1–0. 10.Qxh8+ Ke7
11.Qe5+ Kf8
Agosto, Erika - De Maio, Anna 12.Bh6+ Kg8
ITA-ch (Women) Formia (4), 1992 13.Qg7# 1–0.
1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6 Hartleif, Silke - Verkooyen, Michaela
3.Nc3 Nf6 Ruhrgebiet-ch U20 Girls GER, 1996
4.d4 exd4 1.e4 e5
5.Nd5 Be7?! 2.Nf3 Nc6
6.Nxd4 Nxe4? [...0–0] 3.Nc3 Nf6
7.Nf5 g6?? 4.d4 exd4
5.Nd5 Nxe4
Better is 7... 0–0 6.Qe2 f5
8.Qg4 Bf6 7.Ng5 Ne7?
9.Nxf6+ Qxf6 8.Nxe4 Nxd5??
10.Nh6+ Kh8 9.Nd6# 1–0.
11.Qxe4 gxh6
12.Bd3 Qe5 Macek, Lukas - Vetrovec, Z
13.Be3! Qxe4 Czech Fed-ch U14 (9), 1997
14.Bxe4 Re8 +/=. 1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6
8.Nfxe7 Nxe7 3.Nc3 Nf6

5
 An Introduction to The Belgrade Gambit
Richard Westbrook, 2006.
4.d4 exd4 8.Qxe4+ Kf7?? [...Ne7]
5.Nd5 Nxe4 9.Ng5+ Kg8
6.Qe2 f5 10.Bc4 Nb4
7.g4!? g6 11.Ne7# 1–0.
8.gxf5 gxf5
9.Ng5 Ne5 Knox, Victor - Eley, Brian
10.Qh5+ Ng6 BCF-ch Coventry (6), 1970
11.Nxe4 [11.Nxh7! Rg8 12.Rg1 +-] fxe4 1.e4 e5
12.Bg5 1–0. 2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Nc3 Nf6
Wrobel, F - Rapp, Uwe 4.d4 exd4
Germany, 1989 5.Nd5 Nxe4
1.e4 e5 6.Bc4!? Bb4+
2.Nf3 Nc6 7.c3 dxc3
3.Nc3 Nf6 8.0–0 0–0
4.d4 exd4 9.Qc2 Re8
5.Nd5 Nxe4 10.Bf4 d6
6.Qe2 f5 11.Rae1 Nd2??
7.Ng5 Be7?! 12.Ng5 1-0.
8.Nxe4 fxe4
9.Qxe4 0–0 If 12...g6 13.Rxe8+ Qxe8 14.Nf6+ Kf8
10.Bc4 Kh8 15.Ngxh7+ [15.Nxe8 Nxc4] 15...Kg7
11.Bd3 g6 16.Nxe8+ Kxh7 17.bxc3 +-.
12.Bh6 Re8
13.0–0 d6 Van der Weide, Karel (2345) –
14.Rae1 Bf5 Ye Rongguang (2475)
15.Qf4 Qd7 [...Ne5] Haarlem Open (4), 1996
16.Bb5 Kg8?? 1.e4 e5
17.Rxe7 1–0. 2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Nc3 Nf6
Dusova, P - Lesniakova, M 4.d4 exd4
CZE-ch U10 Girls, 1994 5.Nd5 Nxe4
1.e4 e5 6.Qe2 f5
2.Nf3 Nc6 7.Ng5 Ne7? An IM misses! 7...d3.
3.Nc3 Nf6 8.Nxe4 fxe4? Twice!
4.d4 exd4
5.Nd5 Nxe4 8... d3
6.Qe2 f5 prevents White's light-squared bishop from
7.g4?! [Ng5; Bf4] fxg4??+- getting out quickly, but Black is still lost ....
9.cxd3 fxe4
Black should play 7... d6!? 10.Qh5+! g6
8.gxf5 Bxf5 11.Qe5 d6
9.Nd2 Ne5 12.Qxh8 Nxd5
10.Nxe4 c6 13.dxe4 Qe7
11.Bg2 in order to keep a small advantage. 14.Qd4 …
White is up the exchange and winning.

6
 An Introduction to The Belgrade Gambit
Richard Westbrook, 2006.
9.Qh5+! g6 XIIIIIIIIY
10.Qe5 Rg8 8r+lwqr+k+0
11.Bg5! … 7zppzpp+-+p0
6-+n+-+pvL0
11.Nxc7+!! Kf7 5+-+N+-+-0
12.Bg5 Rg7 4-vl-zpQ+-+0
3+-+L+-+-0
(12...Bg7? 13.Qf4+ Nf5 14.Bxd8) 2PzPP+-zPPzP0
1tR-+-+K+R0
13.Bc4+ d5 xabcdefghy
14.Bxd5+ Nxd5
15.Bxd8 wins easier. 13.Qf3 …
11... Bg7 Crushing is 13.Nf6+! Kf7
12.Nxc7+! Kf8 14.Nxe8 d5
13.Qf4+ 1–0.
Not 14... Qxe8??
Lorenzo, Eduardo - Salgado, Oscar (2166) 15.Qf3+ Ke7
Galicia-ch Absoluto Mondariz (3.8), 2003 16.Bg5+ Kd6
1.e4 e5 17.Bc4! Qe5
2.Nf3 Nc6 18.Qf8+ Ne7
3.Nc3 Nf6 19.Bf4 +-.
4.d4 exd4
5.Nd5 Nxe4 15.Qf4+ Kxe8
6.Qe2 f5 16.a3 Be7 17.Re1 +-
7.Ng5 d3
8.Qxd3?! Nxg5? 13... d6? [13...Re6! =/+]
9.Bxg5 Qxg5? [...Be7] 14.Nf6+ Kh8
10.Nxc7+ Kd8?? [10...Kf7 11.Nxa8 +/-] 15.Nxe8 B d7?? [15...Qe7 +-]
11.Ne6+ 1–0. 16.Qf8# 1–0.
Tran Hoang Ngoc,Thang – Levacic, Melissa - Chatte, Anne Sophie
Vu The Nam FRA-ch U12 Girls Montlucon (6), 1997
VIE-ch U09 Vietnam (6), 2005 1.e4 e5
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6
2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6
3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4
4.d4 exd4 5.Nd5 Nxd5?!
5.Nd5 Nxe4 6.exd5 Ne7 [...Bb4+]
6.Qe2 f5 7.Bc4 …
7.Ng5 Be7
8.Nxe4 fxe4 Stronger are 7.d6! cxd6
9.Qxe4 0–0 8.Nxd4 +/-; and,
10.Bd3 g6
11.Bh6 Bb4+ 7.Qxd4! Nf5
12.Kf1 Re8 8.Qe4+ Qe7

7
 An Introduction to The Belgrade Gambit
Richard Westbrook, 2006.
9.Bd3 +/=. 15.Ke2 +-.

7... d6 11... Bxg5

8.Nxd4 c5 12.Qxb4 Qf4
9.dxc6 bxc6 13.Bd3 Bf6
10.h3?! … 14.Bxh7+! 1–0.

A waste of time. 10.Qf3 d5 11.Nxc6! Perez, Manuel (2300) - Buenadicha, Ramon

Mondariz op 7th Mondariz (1), 26.07.2000
10... d5 1.e4 e5
11.Bd3 Bb7 2.Nf3 Nc6
12.0–0 c5?? 3.Nc3 Nf6
13.Bb5+! 1–0. 4.d4 exd4
5.Nd5 Bb4+?!
Repkova Eid, Eva (2320) - Harvan, Martin 6.Nxb4 Nxb4
SVK-ch Trencin (2), 1995 7.e5!? [Nxd4] Ng8 [7...Qe7 8.Bb5 =]
1.e4 e5 8.Bc4 d5
2.Nf3 Nf6 9.exd6 Qxd6
3.Nc3 Nc6 10.0–0 Be6
4.d4 exd4 11.Bxe6 fxe6
5.Nd5 Nxd5?! 12.Ng5 [12.Nxd4 0–0–0 13.Be3] h6? [...Ne7]
6.exd5 Nb4 13.Qh5+ Kd7
7.Bc4 Qe7+ 14.Nf7 +- Nf6? [14...Qd5]
8.Kf1 Qe4 15.Qb5+ c6
9.Bg5!? … 16.Qxb7+ 1–0.

Somewhat better is Edwards, Matthew - Hayami, Marvin

9.Qxd4 Qxd4 Seattle Open (7), 1994
10.Nxd4 Bc5 1.e4 e5
11.Be3 Bxd4 2.Nf3 Nc6
12.Bxd4 Nxc2 3.Nc3 Nf6
13.Bxg7 +/=. 4.d4 exd4
5.Nd5 d6!?
9... Be7 6.Nxd4 Nxd4
10.Qd2 [10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.a3 +/-] 0–0 7.Qxd4 Be7
11.Re1!? … 8.Bd3 Nxd5
9.exd5 Bf6
11.a3 Na6 10.Qe4+ Qe7
11.Qxe7+ Kxe7
11... Nxc2? 12.c3 Bg4
12.Rc1; 13.h3 Bh5 [...Bd7]
14.g4 Bg6
11... Qxc2 15.Bxg6 hxg6
12.Qxc2 Nxc2 16.g5 1–0.
13.Bxe7 Nxa1
14.Bxf8 Kxf8