Best Chess Opening Against 1.e4 Refuted? [Rousseau Gambit Declined]

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

💡 Register to GM Igor Smirnov's FREE Masterclass "The Best Way to Improve at Chess INSTANTLY" - chess-teacher.com/masterclass 💲 Join the RCA Affiliate Program, promote our courses, and get 50% commission - chess-teacher.com/partnership/

[@AntiquatedApe]

I'm happy I found your channel. I don't remember how I came across the Rousseau Gambit,but it became my favorite for black very quickly. I started playing chess in early 2021 and this was one of the first games for black that I learned. Surprisingly very little information available about it

[@AniLovesChess]

Perfect timing. Now that my elo has increased quite a bit (just reached 1500 rapid!), my Rousseau games haven't been as successful as it was back when I was like, 1200 (still a positive winrate though). When my opponent goes 4. D3, I usually go bc5 hoping they go for a fried liver attack, leading to some very fun lines as you showed on your previous videos. Now though, most of my opponents just castles, so I'm thinking on switching to nf6 instead of bc5 now. I'll keep on polishing my Rousseau gambit game. Without your videos, teacher, I wouldn't have reached 1500 for sure. Thank you so much teacher Igor!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

► Chapters 00:00 Rousseau Gambit Refutation for White? 00:49 What is the Rousseau Gambit chess opening? 01:49 Rousseau Gambit Declined 02:10 1) If White plays 4.d3 04:00 White's most common moves are MISTAKES 05:36 2) If White plays 4.d4 08:09 Counterattacking White aggressively 13:00 2.2) If White plays 5.exf5 14:50 2.3) If White plays 5.Nxd4

[@ronfrancis6012]

White does not have to retreat the knight if exf5. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 f5 4. exf5 e4 5. Nd4 Black cannot take the knight because Nxd4 6. Qh5+ g6 7. fxg6 * Leading to a promotion and a loss of material for black, as well as stopping black from castling. (Approx +3) [Edit: I see the Nd4 move was covered in the comments below. ]

[@Polish_internet_troll]

There is no other opening I know so good as Rousseau gambit, I was sure that these two lines give just equal game. it turns out that maybe they does, but also gives hundred different traps for white

[@walterbrownstone8017]

I'll tell you another, the Smirnov Gambit! It's actually called the Portsmouth but Igor did three intense videos on it! Incredibly winning opening for white against the Sicilian!

[@tanvirahammed7868]

You mean black.

[@JailerLB]

Yesssss anything with the Rousseau is a Yes!!! Thank you master!

[@secretasianman2531]

at 5:18 white can stop the mate after b-h6 by blocking on g5 though it does lose material trading a minor piece for a pawn, but white lives to fight on. the pawn recapture exposes e5 (white threatens q-e5 check forking the pawn on g5 whose capture also traps the knight on h5) while the black knight on g4 hangs, n f6 covers those threats but also removes an attacker threatening f2 giving white time to regroup.

[@Beery1962]

I think the Rousseau Gambit is my favorite gambit right now. So many traps, and white is kept off balance throughout. It's just beautiful. I love playing as black when I can quickly turn the tables on white and gain the initiative, and the Rousseau Gambit gives me so many fun tactics to try out. However, I'm lazy, so I don't know this gambit all that well. I really need to study this gambit so I know it better.

[@Kadaitchi]

it certainly makes short work of those fried liver players who literally do nothing else as white.

[@wildman1978101]

My favorite and most winning opening all thanks to you Igor. Ive been playing and studying it since your first video.

[@jaafars.mahdawi6911]

"The end justifies the means" is a bad rule to folllow! It's been a while since i last heard a westerner say such things, even if in a chess context. Love your content, btw, and i assure you this gambit has been one of my major weapons as black, thank you and keep it up.

[@ApolloMcDonnean]

Hi Igor, It looks to me like after ... f5, exf5 e4 - there exists Nd4! Can we see some analysys on that?

[@alexgarcia-ip3dj]

So deep & complicated variations moves Bro ' Igor but brilliant tactics ! 😮

[@LiamSherlock-p4x]

Hi! I love this opening but I struggle against ...4. d3 Bc5 5 Ng5 f4 6 Nf7 qh4 7 g3. (or any other move that isn't castling)

[@ehdggaming]

I love these videos Igor!

[@ganeshpillai7545]

I love playing this gambit n defeated higher rated players below 1700. I have mastere this opening. Now my opponents have stopped playing bishops opening n they r playing Ruy Lopez where i loose. Is there any other gambits against e4? Pls suggest . Also suggest me the opening against Ruy Lopez. I want to beat them again.

[@akbarkazim1929]

Igor, have you looked that the line for White which goes Kd4 which sacs the knight but provides an opening for the white queen to come out with a crushing attack ?

[@buyer1411]

Hello, What happens if after pawn D5- White ignores moving bishop and instead moves Queen H5 Check? Thank you

[@PMA65537]

6:30 This centre pawn part resembles Albin countergambit to Queen's gambit although switched sides and colours.

[@jakobbrun6535]

In the position at 9:11, what happens if white takes the pawn with the queen? The black queen must move, Qc5+ can now be blocked with Be3 with tempo, and it seems like blacks momentum sort of falls apart.

[@severinmakomo526]

Been thinking bout this too Suggestions are you threathen thé bishop first with Qc5 then develop or h6 and get to the knight

[@kaeralonthimoneta2935]

I think you still go Qc5. Havent looked at every variation, but if bishop blocks, after knight takes rook takes, the rook is pinned. One idea is Ne5 if pawn takes, Bxg5 doubles on the bishop. Ne5 also hits their queen so they can’t totally ignore it, but I’d need to look for possible counterattacks

[@Ghost_of_Paul_Morphy]

A SAVAGE LINE I FOUND! YOU MUST MAKE AN UPDATE VIDEO ABOUT THIS LINE YOU MISSED! In white's d3 response to f5, after you Bc5 whites most popular move is to castle (the Ng5 you WANT is 2nd most popular). DON'T play Ng6 if white castles, you get a second chance to bait him into Ng5!!! White will use their turn to pin your knight every time if you Ng6. Instead play the innocent looking d6. Now they are AGAIN likely (2nd most popular move again!) to go for the fork if they didn't fall for it on your first try! D6 replaces your knight with a bishop for a devastating Qh4/Bg4!/f4 attack. This isn't a guaranteed checkmate if the opponent plays perfectly, but the best he can do is lose a ton of material including his queen, a rook, a knight, multiple pawns, and a completely destroyed position! Bg4! is so strong that the top computer reply is to sac the queen into it. 🤣🤣🤣 (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 f5 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. Ng5 f4 7. Nf7 Qh4 8. Nxh8 Bg4!)

[@DariusShanle]

Thanks for that. In one game my opponent castled instead of moving his knight

[@Monkeyabroad]

My favorite gambit as well

[@adriansuter3354]

White can get advantage in the following line: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 f5 4. exf5 e4 5. Nd4 Nxd4 6. Qh5+. Black is not lost in this line, but the position is difficult to play. (g6 7. fxg6 Nf6 8. g7+ Nxh5 9. gxh8Q)

[@davidbatchelder85]

Q when pushing d5, is it not wise to do Nf6 first. For if your opponent Qh5 + That throws a real delemia in the mix. Right

[@tamicolic7715]

What if at blacks e4, that knight doesn't go back but at d4 (white plays Nd4)? It's actually bad for black, because if they capture it, there is Qh5! and, well... ouch for us. xD Please cover this thingy in the next video!

[@christopherlibrojo5087]

after Black D5, what is the best moves? after White Qh5+? I think' this is Dangerous for Black 🤔😓

[@nada1988-v1c]

QUESTION!!!! I love this, still beginner and trying to learn this and watched all 3 videos about this, but my opponents many times after eating my pawn and I move forward (1:28->) threatning knight, they move queen, I do the same, and they keep moving forward with their pawn, and everything is a mess and almost like Scholar's Mate. Any tricks to that?

[@labestianegra6373]

Which pawn?

[@Ghost_of_Paul_Morphy]

FUN FACT! If you like this f5 against the Italian game, try it with my defense! Every single move white plays here is the #1 most played move by white on Lichess with one exception, instead of #1 most played move c4 Italian game, white plays the #2 most played move, b5 Ruy Lopez and gets crushed by the Morphy Defense + f5! (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 f5 6. exf5 e4 7. Qe2 Qe7 8. Ng1 Nf6 9. Nc3 Nd4 10. Qe3 c5! 11. Nd5?? Nxd5 12. Bxd5 Nxc2+) GG! 🤣🤣 Even if white doesn't fall for the Nd5?? tactical trap, (the #1 move played!) stop and take a minute to admire this board position now, black has one of the most dominating board positions you will ever see a player have even though he has 0 material! This is from white playing all of the top moves listed in Lichess, they just beat themselves for you! More lines using f4 with my defense using whites top moves on Lichess! Again they lead themselves right to a loss for you, these are the #1 moves that white is playing, not wishful thinking! If instead of (#1) exf5 in the previous example, they play (#2) d3, these are whites #1 most played moves! (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 f5 6. d3 Bc5 7. O-O d6 8. Ng5 f4 9. Nf7 Qh4 10. Nxh8?? Bg4!) GG!! 🤣🤣 If instead of (#1) Qe2 in the first example, they play (#2) Ng2, these are the rest of whites #1 most played moves! 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 f5 6. exf5 e4 7. Ng1 Qg5 8. g3 Qxf5 9. d3 (Unfortunately there is only 11 games left in the database at this point, black is completely controlling the tempo and white is in a losing board position, obvious moves like Bb7, Nf6, Nd4, exd3, even Bb4# are all the top moves depending on your engine and they are all rated very close to each other so this is a very solid and forgiving position where you don't have to worry about messing up and losing! White has absolutely no good counter play to gain the initiative back. Of the 11 games left to reference, black wins 75% regardless of what he plays next. And again, white put himself in this position by playing all of the top moves on Lichess! (note: if white is familiar with Rousseau he may play the "free" Nd4 trap here on you instead of Ng1. It doesn't work in this line, ignore the knight and play Qg5, this leads to white taking a poisoned rook in your corner and you winning the game! Nxc6 or he loses it now after Qg5, if he plays something else like g3 or Rg1 then the knight is now free to take. After he plays Nxc6 then Qxg2, Rf2 dxc6, Qh5+ g6, fxg6 hxg6, Qxh8?? Bh3!, the only way for white to save his game here is to trade his queen for your bishop and he'll never do that!) There are many other lines using combinations of the first, and second most played moves by white listed on Lichess, playing any of the top two most common moves in many different points against this opening just doesn't work! The reason is, players have no idea how to play against the Morphy Defense + f5. It's very complicated to defend against and hard to calculate on the fly with multiple points that require specific moves that are not natural or intuitive or obvious at the time. So if you practice this and learn in, and you play someone who hasn't (almost ALL players!) you will win a huge percentage of your games vs the Ruy Lopez! One final thing to note, one of my chess engines has d4 ranked 3rd, and the other has it ranked 2nd, as a reply to f5. Only 7% of all players play this, so there's not enough data on Lichess to investigate the lines. The good news is, even if this is a winning move, it's a VERY tiny percent of the moves played here!

[@jkssuriya]

There is another tricky line at 1.26 after pawn to d3 knight can go to d4 square.

[@ccemcoffingonzalez5304]

Hi. What happens if white takes with the Queen on d3 (9:30 in the video the bishop takes on d3) ?

[@kaeralonthimoneta2935]

In another comment I suggest Qc5+, then Be6 Nxe6 and after Rxe6 Ne5 white has to decide between capturing with pawn which allows …Bxg5 (rook is pinned) or trying to run around or look for trades with the queen, which I think still ends with White’s white bishop eaten for fee

[@paulmacariola10]

This gambit I want to know because I love to play chaos or wild opening. Can Ilaborate more this opening coach. Do you any wild opening in white and black. Thanks❤

[@christopherlibrojo5087]

after Black D5, White Reply Qh5+ what is the best moves?

[@Mehroz_moazam420]

You are the master of gamblers sir I am your big fan ❤

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

❤

[@christopherlibrojo5087]

after Black BxNg5, white reply, BxNe5/black NxBe5/white F4 I think this is bad for Black, what do you think Sir,? and There's Threatening Qh5+

[@Naborbukv2]

What about 7. d4 move? This time (unlike in rousseau gambit) we need to answer with 8. fxe4

[@lohitakshanavneeth135]

Rousseau Gambit is so deadly tried it in a tournament my opponent was thinking for 30 minutes after I played f5 and went for exf5 and after e4 went on to blunder his knight by ne5 even though he thought for 20 minutes. The rousseau gambit is really hard to counter as white because there are too many traps that black has at his disposal.

[@davidjohnson3913]

I watched 3 videos on this gambit and you still haven't explained the proper continuation for 5.) Nd4 ... IF Nxd4 then; 6.) Qh5+ g3 7.) fxg3 Nf6 8.) g7+ Nxh5 gxh8(Q) 8.) Nf6 ... I have analyzed both Qe7 and d5 and both lead to VERY complicated lines with a very exposed King (one slip you done for), and in both continuations White gets a safe King via castling. After battling it out with Stockfish best I can do is get an Endgame down a pawn and with doubled pawns (or just down two pawns). HELP!!!! PLZ!!!!

[@theexaminer4784]

What will you do as white? I will check the king with my bishop, black knight takes the bishop out and I recapture with the rook pawn opening the column for my rook.

[@Naborbukv2]

Today I was about to quit chess, but video about Rousseau Gambit saved my day and extended my chess struggles fow a while.

[@John-dl6re]

Hello Igor. People who know this gambit kill it off straight away with bishop takes Knight on g8, directly after the roussesu gambit is played. Do you have any idea how this move can be countered? Cheers.

[@jotarokujo5132]

there is a counter. play the two knights defense.

[@John-dl6re]

​@@jotarokujo5132How can you play the two knights defence when they immediately take your Knight?

[@jotarokujo5132]

@@John-dl6re they can't take the knight when it's no longer on G8. You bring out both knights before the bishop.

[@John-dl6re]

@@jotarokujo5132 No. The Roussesu gambit is played by moving pawn F7 to F5 AFTER white has opened with the Italian game. Their bishop is already there to take Knight on G8 next move after the gambit pawn.

[@jotarokujo5132]

​@@John-dl6re I know, but you asked about a way the Knight can't just be taken by the white bishop, and you just can't prevent that in the Rousseau. So you have to be comfortable with it and take back with the rook.

[@reallifegambits]

what if he takes with queen at 9:37

[@cb3132]

Dear Mr. Igor, Thank you for this Roussea! Woohoo! I'm also looking for a Course of yours which you designed to level up or make better my chess. Where is it? I'm a 1600 and I'm going to get to 1800 ! Thanks again, Chris.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Here is the link to the course. online.chess-teacher.com/course/level-up-your-chess/

[@cb3132]

@@GMIgorSmirnov Thanks !

[@ganeshpillai7545]

At 4:55 what if he doesn't accept the Greek gift?

[@The_Real_Sensei]

you retreat bishop and continue plan... 99% of the time declining a greek gift is not a good idea

[@OliverWahnschafft]

I think black's defence becomes vulnerable to attacks by white queen if white's bishop takes out the king side knight right after the Rousseau gambit

[@Blackmystix]

Nah, Igor covers that in the second video on this gambit.

[@Mranav_]

Wait igor if im like 1650 elo its fine by me to play that? Pls answer

[@aoe2sfgt184]

I use it and i'm 1850. it's definitely my favorite opening.

[@labestianegra6373]

@@aoe2sfgt184 No, that's illegal. Above 1200 it is officially forbidden by FIDE.

[@sadiqliyev923]

Thank you

[@RayT70]

What happens after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 f5 4. d4 exd4 5. Ng5

[@walterbrownstone8017]

GM Igor always has good stuff!

[@alejandroayalamaldonado2817]

Gracias .!!!

[@brettmagill7040]

What about white knight to D4 which is classified as brilliant

[@ReysonTaladtad-s3i]

Thank you for your opening

[@kontobiol3020]

I played last tournament Roussou Gambit

[@krishnamoorthyramkumar7814]

I am using your trap but i am loss there are some move changes

[@krishnamoorthyramkumar7814]

E4 e5 nf3 nc6 d4 ed4 bc4 h6

[@Amazing_wildlife7721]

The idea of Rousseau gambit is winning is rooted in the idea that the opponent doesn't know how to refute it at all and also make mistakes along the way. So basically hopechess that works for beginners

[@purplesun3792]

The idea is to get a crazy tactical game. The Rousseau gambit is successful at the club level way up to expert and beyond. It can be a good choice for any player who's looking for a sharp unbalanced game or as a surprise weapon for a tactical player.

[@0neAmongBillions]

Right. If opponent plays in lines shown differently from the video black almost loses very badly...........

[@bakribur9622]

Can you do kings Indian

[@cwoodside907]

Every time I play f5, I’m always left with Bxg8 and lose a knight. Then, take back with the rook.....

[@walkerb392]

Hey yo Igor. Your beloved gambit has been refuted by adam's super mario counter gambit

[@tomkinnally9656]

Love Igor's aura of fun

[@rvptvchannel5724]

Nice gambet

[@Lovetheviolins]

Oh wise and mighty one...

[@GabrielCamilo84]

Most of the time people stop the bishop on B5, not C4.

[@PavlosPapageorgiou]

This seems like a worthy partner to the Trompowsky and the Vienna that I use as white... :)

[@oleksiimakarenko6150]

5:33 where is a mate there? king goes on e1

[@andrewcain6518]

It isn’t mate, but after trading the knight for the Queen. The game is over.

[@oleksiimakarenko6150]

@@andrewcain6518didnt notice🤣🤦‍♂️ understand, thnx

[@BobChess]

Very fun gambit to play. I would try this in my next tournament.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Go for it!

[@justanotheryoutubechannel3102]

I'm still building my book and am very depressed by 3.d3, leading to the Luccini Gambit. It requires twice the theory of the Rousseau with few winning and even some losing lines. I haven't even gotten to 3.d4 yet, other than your coverage in other videos. As a King's Gambit player, it looks like a reverse Falkbeer Counter Gambit. I don't know why it isn't called that because the variation doesn't have a name as far as I know.

[@lord_guns]

had to look this gambit up because i played it by accident

[@sirogio]

дякую!

[@dragonore2009]

In case folks are interested in beating chess bots, Isla chess bot falls for the Rousseau gambit every time.

[@kiraishagaming]

Vienna Player be like: Yeah, it's so easy to remember :))

[@Dr.M.VincentCurley]

Don't worry Igor, we've got bail money saved up for you. God knows you saved our asses tons of times already.

[@theexaminer4784]

Sorry igor you are not showing the original lines that white can play to crush this gambit. The queen's knight will come into early rescue also developing all their pieces.

[@rehanhindigaming]

Bro if he develops Nc3 then we can take e4 pawn and we are taking its most useful central pawn so he will move N*e4 , then D5 pawn will pin bishop and knight so we gets a little advantage at an early stage

[@theexaminer4784]

@@rehanhindigaming please analysis my suggestion at the early stage of the game when you push for the gambit. Move #4.

[@danalexpiano]

@@theexaminer4784 4. Nc3? :-D loses to exd4, standard newbie “sac” with recovering on the next move after the fork pawn to d5.

[@theexaminer4784]

​​​​@@danalexpiano I am not being able to explain in words. Watch for Nf3 4th move for white. If you try to go forward your king side will be exposed. Before laughing you need a brain eye combo.

[@purplesun3792]

4.Nc3 fxe4 5.Nxe4 d5

[@tommasogiomi1245]

Italian player, this gambit sucks a$$. Italian game supremacy 😎👑

[@cortilusgrant7675]

Chess is a dead 💀 god Caissa ⚘🌚👍Rest in the Good News ⚘ Okay bye

[@RadicalCaveman]

You always try to be as evil as possible.

[@andersjonsson8403]

Thanks a lot Igor! I have played it before but leaved it, but now I thanksfully see how I should play it! 😊👍♟