NEW Silver Gambit Suite

[Albert Silver]

The terminal position:
[d]rn1qk2r/pp3ppp/2p1pn2/4N3/PbpPb3/2N2P2/1P4PP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq -

This is a hyper theoretical line that changes evaluation all the time. It is like the Botvinnik system, one constantly subject to a refutation on one side or the other, and requiring a huge amount of memorization to be played. Typical playground material for the elite.

[Vinvin]

I very like the Ulvestad variation : 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 !?
Could we add it ?


And the Halloween Gambit too : 1.e4 e5 2.Cf3 Cc6 3.Cc3 Cf6 4.Cxe5!?
http://www.chessville.com/UCO/Halloween ... Part_1.htm
http://www.chessville.com/UCO/Halloween ... Part_2.htm

Thanks,
Vincent

[vigo64]

one of my favorite start position is this:

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "?"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[PlyCount "7"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nxe5 *

greetings, Ciro

[Albert Silver]

I very like the Ulvestad variation : 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 !?
Could we add it ?


And the Halloween Gambit too : 1.e4 e5 2.Cf3 Cc6 3.Cc3 Cf6 4.Cxe5!?
http://www.chessville.com/UCO/Halloween ... Part_1.htm
http://www.chessville.com/UCO/Halloween ... Part_2.htm

Thanks,
Vincent

I considered the Ulvestad, and know it very well, having played it as white for many years. The problem is that when you look at what the engines will choose, they systematically go for the quiet Na5 Bb5+ c6 dxc6 bxc6 lines, which are not very interesting. Even if I forced a sharper variation such as the Nd4 c3 b5 line, the truth is it has been ultra analyzed and is almost entirely theoretical. Either the engine finds the right moves, or it has a solid chance of going bust. I don't want a line to be like a test suite where the engine must constantly find the one or two correct moves or they lose. It is an openings suite, not a tactical suite.

As to the Holloween, I admit I barely looked at it. I did peruse the links you gave, and also gave the start position to Rybka 3, who after 17 plies and 2m30 said it was -0.93, which would be an instant no-no.

However, after 5 mins, it changed to -0.63 and when I looked at the links you gave, decided there was plenty of play to reach crazy dynamic positions, so I will include it. I am now going to search for 4 more positions to make a round 25.

[Terry McCracken]

The terminal position:
[d]rn1qk2r/pp3ppp/2p1pn2/4N3/PbpPb3/2N2P2/1P4PP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq -

This is a hyper theoretical line that changes evaluation all the time. It is like the Botvinnik system, one constantly subject to a refutation on one side or the other, and requiring a huge amount of memorization to be played. Typical playground material for the elite.

Interesting position...It appears accepting the sac and giving up the Rook on h1 is better for White and if Black opts for the Q-Pawn instead it appears drawing.

[Dann Corbit]

Here are the decorated Epd records for the current Silver Gambit Suite.
The predicted moves and move counts in curly braces are from my own arbitrary collection of high-end games. The most interesting of these positions will be those for which the most popular predicted move does not match the computer analysis move. This will indicate one of two things:
1. The engine does not understand the position, even after a good, long think
OR
2. The engine found a novel variation perhaps containing a refutation.

Code: Select all

rnbqkbnr/pppp1ppp/8/4P3/8/8/PPPPP1PP/RNBQKBNR b KQkq - acd 28; bm d6; ce -27; id "Silver-Gambit.01"; pm d6 {262} Nc6 {23}; pv d6 exd6 Bxd6 Nf3 Nf6 Nc3 O-O e3 a6 a3 c5 Bd3 Qc7 O-O Nbd7 Qe1 c4 Be4 Nc5 Nd5 Qd8 Nxf6+ Qxf6 Bd5 Be6 Bxe6 fxe6 Qe2 b5 a4 Nxa4 Rxa4 bxa4 Qxc4 Qf5 d3 Rab8 Qxa4 Qb5;
rnbqkbnr/ppppp1pp/8/5p2/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKB1R b KQkq - acd 27; bm fxe4; ce 0; id "Silver-Gambit.02"; pm fxe4 {643}; pv fxe4 Ng5 Nf6 d3 Nc6 dxe4 e6 Nc3 Bc5 Bd3 Qe7 Nf3 O-O O-O Ng4 Qe2 Qf6 h3 Nge5 Nxe5 Qxe5 Kh1 Nd4 Qg4 h5 Qg6 Rf6 Qe8+ Rf8 Qg6;
r1b1kbnr/ppppqppp/2n5/4P3/8/5N2/PPP1PPPP/RNBQKB1R w KQkq - acd 28; bm Bg5; ce 70; id "Silver-Gambit.03"; pm Nc3 {12} Qd5 {11}; pv Bg5 Qe6 Bf4 d6 Nd4 Qg4 Qd2 Nxd4 Qxd4 g5 Be3 Qxd4 Bxd4 Bg7 Nc3 Bd7 Be3 Bxe5 Bxg5 Ne7 O-O-O Rg8 Bd2 d5 g3 d4 Ne4 O-O-O Kb1 Kb8 Bg2 b6;
rnbqkb1r/ppppp1pp/5n2/8/3Pp3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKBNR w KQkq - acd 26; bm Bg5; ce -8; id "Silver-Gambit.04"; pm Bg5 {185} f3 {33}; pv Bg5 g6 Bc4 c6 Bb3 d5 f3 exf3 Nxf3 Nbd7 Rf1 Bg7 Qe2 Nf8 O-O-O Ne6 Bh4 O-O Kb1 Ne8 Rfe1 b5 Ne5 Bxe5 dxe5 Nf4 Qf3 a5 Rd4 Ne6;
rnbqkbnr/pp1ppppp/8/8/1p2P3/8/P1PP1PPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - acd 26; bm Nf3; ce -20; id "Silver-Gambit.05"; pm a3 {29}; pv Nf3 Nc6 a3 e5 Bc4 Nf6 Qe2 Bc5 axb4 Bxb4 O-O O-O Nc3 d6 Nd5 Bc5 c3 Be6 Rd1 Re8 d3 h6 Qb2 Rb8;
rnbqkbnr/pp1ppppp/8/8/4P3/2N5/PP3PPP/R1BQKBNR b KQkq - acd 26; bm Nc6; ce 13; id "Silver-Gambit.06"; pm Nc6 {361} e6 {21}; pv Nc6 Nf3 e6 Be2 Nf6 O-O Be7 e5 Ng4 Bf4 f6 exf6 Nxf6 Nb5 O-O Bc7 Qe8 Ne5 Ne4 Bf3 a6 Bxe4 axb5 Qd3 g6 Qxb5 d5 Bd3 Nb4 a3 Nxd3 Qxd3 Ra4 Rac1;
rnbqkbnr/pppp1ppp/8/8/4P3/2N5/PP3PPP/R1BQKBNR b KQkq - acd 26; bm Bc5; ce 17; id "Silver-Gambit.07"; pm Nc6 {34} Bc5 {21}; pv Bc5 Bc4 d6 Nf3 Nf6 e5 dxe5 Qxd8+ Kxd8 Nxe5 Re8 Bf4 Be6 O-O-O+ Kc8 Bxe6+ fxe6 Nd3 Bb6 Rhe1 Nc6 Re2 a6 Kb1 Ba5 Ne4 e5 Bc1 Nd4 Re3 h6 b4 Nxe4 Rxe4;
rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/5n2/8/2BpP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQK2R b KQkq - acd 26; bm Nxe4; ce 28; id "Silver-Gambit.08"; pm Nc6 {126} Nxe4 {49} Bc5 {30} d5 {12}; pv Nxe4 Qxd4 Nf6 Nc3 Be7 O-O O-O Re1 Nc6 Qd1 Bb4 Bg5 d6 Qd3 d5 Nxd5 Bxe1 Rxe1 Be6 Bxf6 gxf6 Nh4 Bxd5 Bxd5 Ne5 Qg3+ Kh8 Bxb7 Rb8 Be4 Rxb2 Qa3 Rb8 Qe3 Rg8 Qh6 Rg7 Nf5 Rg5;
rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/8/3Pp3/5P2/8/PPPP2PP/RNBQKBNR b KQkq - acd 25; bm exf4; ce 8; id "Silver-Gambit.09"; pm exf4 {475} Qxd5 {58} e4 {54} Qf6 {22} c6 {22}; pv exf4 Nf3 Nf6 c4 c6 d4 Bb4+ Nc3 cxd5 Bxf4 O-O Bd3 dxc4 Bxc4 Re8+ Ne5 Be6 O-O Nc6 Bxe6 Rxe6 a3 Ba5 Nxc6 bxc6 Qd3 Bc7 Bxc7 Qxc7 Rae1 Rae8 Rxe6 Rxe6 h3 Re8 b4 Qd6;
rnbqkbnr/pppp1p1p/8/6p1/2B1Pp2/5N2/PPPP2PP/RNBQK2R b KQkq - acd 25; bm g4; ce 71; id "Silver-Gambit.10"; pm Bg7 {10}; pv g4 Ne5 Qh4+ Kf1 Nh6 Nc3 d6 Nd3 f3 Nd5 Kd8 Qe1 g3 gxf3 Bh3+ Ke2 Bg2 N5f4 Bxh1 hxg3 Qh2+ Qf2 Qxf2+ Nxf2 Nc6 Nxh1 Nd4+ Kf2 Nxc2 Rb1 c6 b4 Kc7 Bd3 Nd4 Bb2 Bg7 Rc1 Be5 Nd5+ Kd7;
rnbqkbnr/pppp1p1p/8/8/2B1Pp2/5Q2/PPPP2PP/RNB2RK1 b kq - acd 25; bm Qf6; ce 73; id "Silver-Gambit.11"; pv Qf6 d3 Nc6 Bxf4 d6 Nc3 Qg7 Nd5 Kd8 c3 Nge7 Ne3 Na5 Bb5 a6 Ba4 Rg8 Bc2 Nac6 d4 Bg4 Nxg4 Qxg4 Be3 Qxf3 Rxf3 Ke8;
rnbqkbnr/pppp2pp/8/4pp2/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKB1R w KQkq - acd 25; bm exf5; ce 70; id "Silver-Gambit.12"; pm Bc4 {191} Nxe5 {123} exf5 {121} d4 {95}; pv exf5 d6 Nc3 c5 Bd3 Nc6 Nd5 Nf6 c4 Be7 Nxf6+ Bxf6 Be4 h5 Qc2 Ne7 Rb1 O-O O-O Qd7 b4 cxb4 Rxb4 Nxf5 Re1 Bd8 c5 a5 Qc4+ Qf7 Bd5;
rnbq1b1r/ppp2kpp/3p1n2/8/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKB1R w KQ - acd 24; bm d4; ce -65; id "Silver-Gambit.13"; pm d4 {72} Nc3 {30}; pv d4 Be6 Bd3 g6 Nc3 Kg7 f4 c5 d5 Bf7 g4 h6 Qf3 Nbd7 h4 Qe7 h5 Re8 hxg6 Bxg6 f5 Bf7 g5 hxg5 Rxh8 Kxh8 Bxg5 Ne5;
r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/8/4P3/2N2N2/PP3PPP/R1BQKB1R b KQkq - acd 26; bm Bd6; ce 11; id "Silver-Gambit.14"; pm Bb4 {29} Bc5 {12} Nf6 {10}; pv Bd6 Bd3 Nge7 O-O O-O Be3 a6 Qd2 Re8 Rfe1 Ng6 Bg5 f6 Be3 Rb8 a4 Nge5 Nxe5 Nxe5 Be2 Nc6 Bh5 Re7 Qd5+ Kh8 Be2 b6;
r1b1kbnr/pppp1Bpp/8/4N1q1/3nP3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R b KQkq - acd 29; bm Kd8; ce 61; id "Silver-Gambit.15"; pv Kd8 O-O Qxe5 c3 Ne6 Re1 Qf6 Bxe6 dxe6 Qb3 Qg6 d4 Nf6 Nd2 Be7 e5 Nh5 Ne4 b6 d5 Bb7 c4 Kc8 Qh3 Bb4 Nc3 Qf5 Qxf5 exf5 e6 Be7 Re5 g6;
r1bqk1nr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/1bB1P3/2P2N2/P2P1PPP/RNBQK2R b KQkq - acd 26; bm Ba5; ce 38; id "Silver-Gambit.16"; pm Ba5 {904} Be7 {171} Bc5 {76} Bd6 {32}; pv Ba5 d4 exd4 O-O Nf6 e5 d5 exf6 dxc4 fxg7 Rg8 Bg5 Qd5 Bf6 Be6 Nxd4 Nxd4 cxd4 Qf5 d5 Bxd5 Qe2+ Kd7 Nc3 Rae8 Qd1 Bxc3 Bxc3 Kc8 Qd4 Qe4 Qxe4 Bxe4 Rfe1 Kd7 f3 Bd3 Kf2;
r1bqkbnr/pppp2pp/2n5/1B2pp2/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - acd 27; bm Nc3; ce 46; id "Silver-Gambit.17"; pm Nc3 {177} d3 {32} d4 {29} Bxc6 {10}; pv Nc3 fxe4 Nxe4 Nf6 Qe2 Qe7 d3 Nxe4 dxe4 a6 Bc4 h6 O-O d6 Be3 Qf6 Nd2 Bd7 c3 O-O-O f4 Kb8 fxe5 Qxe5 Bd5 Qe8 b4 Ne5 Nc4 Bb5 Rae1 Be7;
r1bq1rk1/4bppp/p1p5/1p1nR3/8/1BP5/PP1P1PPP/RNBQ2K1 w - - acd 26; bm d4; ce 53; id "Silver-Gambit.18"; pm d4 {1011} Re1 {89} d3 {86} Bxd5 {42} a4 {23}; pv d4 Bd6 Re1 Bf5 Nd2 Qc7 Nf1 Rae8 Bd2 Rxe1 Qxe1 Nf6 Ng3 Bg6 Qd1 c5 dxc5 Bxc5 Qf3 a5 Re1 a4 Bd1 Rd8 Bf4 Qd7 h3 Bb6;
rnbqkb1r/ppp1pppp/5n2/8/3Pp3/2N2P2/PPP3PP/R1BQKBNR b KQkq - acd 25; bm exf3; ce 38; id "Silver-Gambit.19"; pm exf3 {2645} Bf5 {85} e3 {62} e6 {32} h6 {11}; pv exf3 Nxf3 e6 Be3 Nc6 a3 Bd6 Qd2 O-O O-O-O Ne7 Kb1 Ned5 Bd3 c6 Rhe1 Nxe3 Qxe3 Nd5 Nxd5 cxd5 Ne5 Qh4 Re2;
rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/8/4P3/2Pp4/8/PP2PPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - acd 26; bm Nf3; ce 49; id "Silver-Gambit.20"; pm Nf3 {165}; pv Nf3 Nc6 Nbd2 Bg4 a3 Qe7 b4 Nxe5 Nxe5 Qxe5 Bb2 O-O-O Nb3 Nf6 f3 Be6 Qd3 Qh5 c5 Bf5 Qd2 d3 e3 Qg5 Nd4;

[Dann Corbit]

The terminal position:
[d]rn1qk2r/pp3ppp/2p1pn2/4N3/PbpPb3/2N2P2/1P4PP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq -

This is a hyper theoretical line that changes evaluation all the time. It is like the Botvinnik system, one constantly subject to a refutation on one side or the other, and requiring a huge amount of memorization to be played. Typical playground material for the elite.

Interesting position...It appears accepting the sac and giving up the Rook on h1 is better for White and if Black opts for the Q-Pawn instead it appears drawing.

Computer analysis of the line:
[d]rn1qk2r/pp3ppp/2p1pn2/4N3/PbpPb3/2N2P2/1P4PP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - acd 27; acn 18971885835; acs 3569; bm fxe4; ce 0; pv fxe4 Nxe4 Bd2 Qxd4 Nxe4 Qxe4+ Qe2 Bxd2+ Kxd2 Qd5+ Kc2 Na6 Nxc4 O-O Qe5 Rab8 Rd1 Nb4+ Kc1 Na2+ Kc2 Nb4+;

[Vinvin]

Oops, my copy-paste droped the last moves of the Ulvestad e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 b5 !? , there still plenty of play for both side, as you can see in this chess video (the Ulvestad start at 2min45s) :

I propose some other openings I looked more or less closely :

A. The Nimzovitch counter gambit : 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 c6 (I play this usually against the KG), a tournament was played some years ago : http://pagesperso-orange.fr/lefouduroi/ltt/ltt_c31.htm

B. The scotch gambit : 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd5 4. Bc4

C. 2 Traxler : 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 and here 5. Nxf7 or 5. Bxf7 (both are deepely analyzed as all opening gambits but stronger engines can make the difference) see : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Knights_Defense#4.Ng5 4...Bc5 is known as both the Traxler Variation and (in the U.S.A. only) the Wilkes-Barre Variation. This bold move ignores White's attack on f7 and leads to wild play where a number of long variations have been analyzed to a draw by perpetual check. White can play 5.d4, 5.Nxf7, or 5.Bxf7+.

I very like the Ulvestad variation : 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 !?
Could we add it ?


And the Halloween Gambit too : 1.e4 e5 2.Cf3 Cc6 3.Cc3 Cf6 4.Cxe5!?
http://www.chessville.com/UCO/Halloween ... Part_1.htm
http://www.chessville.com/UCO/Halloween ... Part_2.htm

Thanks,
Vincent

I considered the Ulvestad, and know it very well, having played it as white for many years. The problem is that when you look at what the engines will choose, they systematically go for the quiet Na5 Bb5+ c6 dxc6 bxc6 lines, which are not very interesting. Even if I forced a sharper variation such as the Nd4 c3 b5 line, the truth is it has been ultra analyzed and is almost entirely theoretical. Either the engine finds the right moves, or it has a solid chance of going bust. I don't want a line to be like a test suite where the engine must constantly find the one or two correct moves or they lose. It is an openings suite, not a tactical suite.

As to the Holloween, I admit I barely looked at it. I did peruse the links you gave, and also gave the start position to Rybka 3, who after 17 plies and 2m30 said it was -0.93, which would be an instant no-no.

However, after 5 mins, it changed to -0.63 and when I looked at the links you gave, decided there was plenty of play to reach crazy dynamic positions, so I will include it. I am now going to search for 4 more positions to make a round 25.

[Albert Silver]

Oops, my copy-paste droped the last moves of the Ulvestad e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 b5 !? , there still plenty of play for both side, as you can see in this chess video (the Ulvestad start at 2min45s) :

I propose some other openings I looked more or less closely :

A. The Nimzovitch counter gambit : 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 c6 (I play this usually against the KG), a tournament was played some years ago : http://pagesperso-orange.fr/lefouduroi/ltt/ltt_c31.htm

B. The scotch gambit : 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd5 4. Bc4

C. 2 Traxler : 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 and here 5. Nxf7 or 5. Bxf7 (both are deepely analyzed as all opening gambits but stronger engines can make the difference) see :

The Falkbeer is already in the suite, and the Goring as well. The Traxler is more of a test suite than an opening, so it doesn't fulfill the requirements I seek. I posted an expanded final version of the gambit suite as you will no doubt have noticed. That said, feel free to add your own for your own matches and tournaments. The suites I provided are my choices, but not the only ones by any means.