♔ whiteC51–C52

Evans Gambit

The Evans Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4) sacrifices a pawn to deflect Black's bishop and seize the center with tempo. One of the most aggressive openings in chess.

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Variations

About the Evans Gambit

Captain William Evans invented this gambit in 1827 and it became a favorite of Paul Morphy. After 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3, White gains tempi on the bishop while building a strong center with d4. The gambit leads to open, tactical positions where White's development advantage can be decisive. Modern GMs like Kasparov and Short have used it successfully at the highest level.

Key Ideas

  • Sacrifice b4 to gain time and center control
  • After c3 and d4, White gets an ideal pawn center
  • Rapid development is the key — every tempo counts
  • The open position favors the better-developed side
  • Don't let Black consolidate — keep the pressure on

Related Openings

Italian GameKing's GambitScotch GameVienna Game

Ready to master the Evans Gambit?

Import this one or your own lines from YouTube, Lichess, or PGN and train with spaced repetition.