Random Guy Invents An Aggressive Gambit With 89% Win Rate! 😱

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♛ Find the Halasz Gambit variations shown in the video in this blog-post - chess-teacher.com/halasz-gambit/
In this video lesson, you will learn about an unusual and aggressive chess opening gambit for White: the Halasz Gambit. It is believed to be named after Gyorgy Halasz, who played this opening in correspondence chess during the 1980s. Surprisingly, he won almost all the games he played with this opening.
The Halasz Gambit, also known as the Halasz-McDonnell Gambit, is a variation of the Center Game, which arises after the following moves: 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.f4.
Watch the full video lesson as GM Igor Smirnov explains the key ideas for White in this opening, the mainline, sidelines, and other variations, as well as middlegame attacking plans.
▬▬▬▬▬▬
► Chapters
00:00 Unusual & Aggressive chess opening for White after 1.e4
00:31 1) Halasz Gambit Main Line (Center Game)
01:51 2) If Black plays 4...Bb4+
03:51 Can you find the winning move?
05:46 Dealing with the Bg4 pin
06:48 3) If Black plays 3...c5 to protect the pawn
10:00 4) If Black plays Bg4 when your bishop is on d3
12:42 5) If Black delays castling
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#IgorNation #ChessGambit #ChessOpenings #ChessTraps #OpeningTraps

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

📲 Follow RCA on TikTok for short and engaging chess content (tips, traps, and more) - www.tiktok.com/@gmigorsmirnov

[@brianbennett2397]

I taught myself chess at the age of 8 and 9; I'm now 70. Your videos have taught me more about chess strategy than my lifetime of playing. Thank you, Igor!

[@worsethanjoerogan8061]

2024 is a great time to be a chess player. The Internet gives us access to high quality chess lessons from GMs and an endless supply of opponents of all skill levels

[@VOID-eg2uh]

we should play chess sometime i rlly wanna learn from you

[@RyxCh]

I want to learn

[@AyushTH]

Naw its all stockfish carrying​@@worsethanjoerogan8061

[@rockerkunal]

Thanks Igor, now delete this video 🤣

[@galkondric5364]

why

[@ledo11148]

@@galkondric5364 so no one knows how to handles this opening lol

[@lightworker2956]

@@galkondric5364 Because Rockerkunal wants to abuse this knowledge without others knowing it. (It's a joke.)

[@bernard9823]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@Zyrexia]

king's gambit but with the wrong pawn sacrifice

[@Caseyuptobat]

King's Bastard gambit

[@stbauch1]

@@Caseyuptobat You know nothing, Jon Snow

[@IgnatiusReilly36]

I´ve been playing chess for 35 years and never heard of Georgy Halasz, this lesson is absolutely brilliant, thank you very much!! 👏👏👏

[@ilmariilonen7257]

Hungarian master, rating around 2350

[@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/

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

► Chapters 00:00 Unusual & Aggressive chess opening for White after 1.e4 00:31 1) Halasz Gambit Main Line (Center Game) 01:51 2) If Black plays 4...Bb4+ 03:51 Can you find the winning move? 05:46 Dealing with the Bg4 pin 06:48 3) If Black plays 3...c5 to protect the pawn 10:00 4) If Black plays Bg4 when your bishop is on d3 12:42 5) If Black delays castling

[@babubbbb1]

explain if black plays a6 before castle

[@newyorkslim2001]

Your enthusiasm and rapid pace continue to delight us all.

[@robmo6505]

The random guy gambit!...... I like it.

[@grantjohnson4810]

Igor, I cannot understate how much I've been learning and improving from your instruction! You're my go-to guy for Chess mastery. In particular, I've gotten much better at looking for counterattacking opportunities (rather than retreating or defending). That said, the application of that same concept may present an issue with your strategy for variation 4, at around 11:20. You assume that black will continue dropping back as you advance the h and g pawns. But what if he plays ...Nxg4. White recaptures with the h pawn, but then Bxg4 restores the pin on the f3 knight. The next move, black can play h5 and that bishop is practically untouchable. Meanwhile, black sacked a knight for 2 pawns (so a slight loss of material) but now has a passed and very well-defended h pawn that you'll need to contend with the rest of the game. I haven't seen used that particular counterattack in this exact situation, but I have used it before, as both colors - usually with a win in the end. Is there a solid refutation of that counterattack in this situation, or in general? Also, in this instance and some others, black could sack the bishop first, then recapture with the knight instead, preparing for Ne3, which would fork White's queen and rook (or at the very least, have itself a lovely outpost). Or again, follow the recapture with h5 to create an outpost for the knight at g4. Any suggestions for repelling these threats, as well?

[@drorbazer7531]

What a fantastic video, great tutoring skills. Thanks!

[@tensor131]

You are so thorough and yet you have the humility to admit that you can't cover every line .. this makes you the best on KZbin .. keep up the fantastic work - just love your expositions - learning so much, thank you.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Glad to help!

[@shadowphoenix8962]

Love this, combines so many attacks from other lines!

[@LLEwzy]

hello igor, i have been watching your videos since December (circa) and i would like to say that i got actual motivation to play chess since you have an easy way to explain and dont feel bothered at same time. i knew how to play but i never got into theory or advanced tactics. i like your channel and i wanted to express my gratitude, thank you, you are my inspiration

[@R.Akerman-oz1tf]

Igor not alone, but is prolly G.O.A.T. for Xplaining.

[@qwksilver5150]

Love odd ball unknown gambits. Will definitely add this to the toll box. Thanks Igor!

[@mariomello5671]

I like this openning! Very good class! Thank you

[@eirikraude854]

Thanks! :) This was a really good one! :)👍👍👍

[@michaelscottturner]

i (1510) just beat a 1528 player in 17 moves in 45 seconds off of my clock (15/10) using this opening! If I had the money I'd definitely give you some, Igor!!!! You are an EXCELLENT TEACHER! Thank you for all you do!

[@mschoenen]

Amazing, Igor - your videos always make me think and consider new approaches that on initial blush seem patently silly!

[@davidmarts7489]

I love that you described so many lines thank you

[@BabzTheGenie]

This is the 2nd video I've watched of yours and I must say your an excellent teacher and I already feel more prepared for my next game....Thankyou Igor I've just subscribed

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Welcome aboard!

[@thundermustard]

I cannot get people to take that pawn to save my life.

[@frozencloud17]

I like this a lot! It's like a better version of the King's Gambit. Thanks GM Smirnoff for showing us this great opening!

[@hervechampagne195]

I don't know if there is a link but an "Halasz gambit" exists in the Caro Kann by Blacks. After 1) e4,c6, 2) d4 d5 3 Nc3 Black plays ...b5, intending to attack the knight.

[@NeRoStivoni]

It's a joy to watch your videos. I wish there is variation where instead of black bishop c4, black goes with pawn on d5

[@eclecticexplorer7828]

In the second line, I can't imagine playing 6... Bxc3 (capturing the knight), but I see it is indeed black's most common move at that point, barely edging out the more principled 6... d6. My preference would be 6... Nf6, attacking the pawn on e5. Getting to e5 would also mean adding pressure to c3, and I would rather make the capture with the knight. If black's knight captures at c3 and white recaptures with the b pawn, then Bxc3 wins the rook (unless white has positioned his queen or dark-squared bishop to defend c3 or has castled). Of course, white could respond (and does 40% of the time) with 7. Bd3, but then black has d5.

[@TruthProfit-vq4qg]

Well, your giving that move such a preface did help me find it, especially after recently seeing a similar idea from the "Magnus reacts" shorts series.

[@ChristianSoschner]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing

[@CainCAUS]

Excellent video! Fun interesting opening. Will have to share this with my friends.

[@robertpease9834]

I can't believe that I found RF8!, I was looking at QB3, but found that it can be blocked, but when I see the QXR leads to a brilliant combo.

[@bakersmileyface]

I saw it but when I saw it I slightly dismissed it just because of the number of things that get in the way of the queen. Serves me right for not calculating it all the way through.

[@HatosukeWataridori]

This looks fun, thank you for sharing

[@dvorakgigachad1444]

Only problem is that I really like 2 pawn saccrifice danish gambit, so now I have to decide between danish gambit and this every time they accept center game :(

[@mingolam]

I try using this concept against Sicilian and seems working, do you have more games on this topic from Halasz?

[@jamesderoc6717]

dont just trust the computer evaluation . . .lets all remember that going forward

[@isaz2425]

at 5:37 , black can sacrifice the queen on f6 to prevent the mate. It's a very difficult position for black, but I can't find a forced mate.

[@ginomoujik8488]

exactly.. a knight and a rook and a pawn vs queen is not the end of the world..

[@user-ix6rz5lk6f]

Brilliant- thank you

[@mazyzazie4048]

Brilliant teaching, as usual.

[@bussyhaver]

grandmaster igor is such a wonderful teacher ❤

[@nielsSavantKing]

@Igor Smirnov. You are such great teacher in explaining chess concepts. So why you don't paly anymore in OTB chess tournaments?

[@silaskulkarni1639]

I love gambits and this looks like the most fun (and unexpected) one yet

[@julianeroell]

OMG this is beautiful! *goes off to play and try all this*

[@sacation6057]

One variation you don't talk about, but seems like a logical move for black, is to play Kn-c6 to b4, attacking your light bishop. the light bishop has then nowhere to go than leaving its diagonal, and additionally, it would enable a fork of the queen&rook at c2 in the next move. at about 10:23

[@derekeastman7771]

C2 then blunders the knight, without moving something up to protect the space white takes with queen

[@reidflemingworldstoughestm1394]

That inspires be to try to become a random guy someday.

[@yaouG1]

your video was suggested, ahahaha dude you are funny af, and easy you make it look

[@matthewalfaro7605]

even though d5 is inaccurate can you kindly show some good line against d5 after e take d pawn

[@zelandakhniteblade5436]

15mins on the Halasz-McDonnell Gambit and not a single mention of the most common black response (3...d5)? This must surely be the lowest-quality video you have ever done Igor. :( In the chess database I see results for 3. f4 of +31 =12 -57, which is nowhere close to the claimed 89% win rate. The only higher-level game this side of The Great War is Zubritsky-Zarnicki (2024), which resulted in a black win in 24 moves. Pablo Zarnicki played 3...d5 in this game.

[@penknight8532]

lol... yeah this only works on maybe 300 to 600 rated players and or speed chess. This isn't a great video but I can see how it helps new players to start to think and use tactics.

[@KailamiMwiinga]

Actually, I played this 16 times at 1800 - 1950 level to see how effective it was on 10 minute blitz... It's not devastating but white has a positional advantage but black can defend the position

[@RayT70]

What to do about an early d5. For example: 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. f4 Nc6 4. Nf3 d5

[@Amar0K86]

just simply push e5, the purpose of the Halasz gambit is to block the d column and play around it, then block the d4 pawn with Bd3

[@penknight8532]

I capture it and just play a wild open game where you usually castle Kingside and pray you don't F it up because Black is going to have a very slight edge.

[@KumarBendrake]

Every time I play this the opponent castles queen side and my attack fizzles out. Can we get a video that shows an attacking plan to stop this from happening?

[@farouqbaiti4315]

I saw this when I was trying to find book moves of the Center Game.😎 By the way, can you show us how to play against the Wing Gambit?🙏🏻

[@user-zk5yd9qi4s]

It looks like a more aggressive Scotch game, it's pretty funny

[@monkerud2108]

pawn f4 to g5 check is such a reality smack with the back of the hand lol.

[@Tietous]

I get a similar position with the vianna gambit sometimes

[@KurtvonLaven0]

8:56 Bxf7+ is playable, because Kxf7 can be met with Ng5+. When the king moves, White has Qxg4.

[@tominmo8865]

This is lots of fun! Can't wait to try it out. Thanks!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@Atilolzz]

Okay I think I found the move at 4:10 It's Rf8+. if King takes then Qf1+ ends the game quickly If Queen takes Rook, its Qb3+ which cant be defended properly

[@dajepson]

3...Qh4+ seems like a tricky response from Black: 4 g3 Bb4+ 5 c3 dxc3 6 bxc3 Qf6, meeting 7 e5 with Qc6.

[@jonahhenning9429]

I’ve been experimenting with this opening against the Chess app on the iOS, at level 12, with similar results

[@josephsalmonte4995]

I know that you make every opening look amazing but this one *does* look amazing lol. I'm going to try it out! ❤

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

❤

[@sashaxvyy217]

thats crazy. speechless

[@PhilippAulen]

after i watched this video i tried out this gambit in blitz and rapid, after 8 games with it i collected 7 wins and 1 draw. works very well for me :)

[@ede2225]

This thing falls apart if they play king's indian, which all my opponents seem to be doing :(

[@penknight8532]

Yeah... it's good to mess with but you probably want something more sound to focus on.

[@leeball4585]

Interesting, but surprised that you didn't consider the move d5 for black at several points in your analysis - it's the old standard idea in e4 e5 openings for a reason.

[@thetransferaccount4586]

jerome would be proud

[@brnsnaribm1371]

Wow I will try right now

[@1BillionSubs125]

GM_Igor, I have a doubt, what if black plays d5 instead of Nf6 in the 1st mainline?

[@alexglebo]

before I used to have people play into that opening all the time, but now that I learned this, nobody wants to play against me this way ...

[@Dc-kk9bd]

"unknown opening" is my best opening

[@08raghav6c7]

Make a full theory video on this pls

[@spodule6000]

I think this is also known as the Vampire Gambit. I used to play it years ago.

[@williamclayton3164]

A lesson in lateral queen moves

[@onlimi616]

Those are some very interesting moves. However, I've found that in my games, as soon as I advance that king's pawn to f4, my opponent immediately responds with Qf4, check. So you block with pawn g3, but then after you castle, your king is wide open. If your immediate attack doesn't go as planned, there are all kinds of ways your king can be attacked.

[@ems3832]

...Qh4+, you mean.

[@onlimi616]

@@ems3832 Yes, that is what I meant to say, thank you.

[@penknight8532]

lul you better figure out how to long castle when that happens!

[@JimBobDewayne]

My opponents push the queen-side pawns first to protect their pawn on d4, instead of bringing out the knight and bishop, and c4 becomes the focal point. You have to fight for that square to be able to put your bishop on c3.

[@xmenesesx]

what happens if after greek gift, instead of KxBh7, just Kh8?

[@kiraishagaming]

I love to play Vienna Gambit, and this gambit line looks interesting to me haha 😂. Will try

[@ajoobakumar6535]

What if in some line black decides to do long castle with Bd6 and Ne7 , Qd2 ?

[@GMGC]

White can always play e5 gaining space

[@kimberlykim4047]

At first when he said "it doesn't do anything, it looks like a tall pole" I thought he said, "It doesn't do anything, just like Tom Holland"

[@soffmusic9655]

What happens if the bishop first goes to e6 or f5? I got screwed with that response

[@KurtvonLaven0]

3:55 Rf8+, because Qxf8 loses to Qb3+, and Kxf8 loses to Qf1+. In both cases, Black has only useless interpositions. In the latter case, the king can run, but all of its flight squares are covered by Qf7#.

[@ttjciluk]

Georgy [ pronounced Jorj but more accurately written in Hungarian as Gyéorgy the gy sound is like J in English] - a Hungarian English way to write George (Gerge) is in Hungarian Halász (Fisher). Just a fun fact.

[@CheckmateChronicles-yr6xj]

Igor, I've just played this first time and my opponent was smashed right away! 😅 thx!

[@Noaxsette]

It's funny to see "my" 800 elo gambit get featured. Of course it's not my gambit nor something I invented because it was just some random moves to me without much thought or complexity behind but I wonder if it's possible some low elo players' randomness can sometimes generate real strategies used by the masters.

[@ronaldocallanta8088]

Good job!😊❤

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

❤

[@nathan2891]

What if knight goes to G4 when you push pawn instead? Still protected by white bishop

[@TechnoTal]

6:05 u can nf6 to d7 and both knights protecting each other

[@faraz4978]

If Black plays Bishop f5, and our pawn on f4 prevents us from capturing it with a rook, what should we do?

[@incognitoblur3396]

Thats actually a bit wrong in the first example, black can still win.After white plays knight to g5, black can play king to h6, stopping the Queen to come to h4.Then probably white will try to push the h pawn, you play pawn to g6, so you can run with the king and cover h8 with the rook. Plus bonus pawn do d3 chess. 1:19 min

[@zada4a]

I just tried it in my bullet game, and won with checkmate, i didnt get the greek gift, but I still sacked my bishop for a lethal bullet aggressive attack, he stood no chance

[@sapta1]

What if Nf6 instead of Nd7 ?? Pls reply

[@_Pancakes__]

And what if they go straight d5 instead of d6

[@brandon7540]

I had a game where they castled, I move pawn up, and they moved their knight to g4.

[@ondrejlesak1005]

Hey, Igor! Im absolutely shocked this logical, agressive and surprising opening was never well known and played often. Its a mystery. In my first chess seasons I always loved f4 move. But not in the first moves. Kings gambit is so risky and well known, Bird goes against all principes of chess and there is a problem with Froms gambit. I tried many openings after e4 e5. In some of them I tried to prepare f4 move. There is so much theory, Spanish, Italian game, some opponents played their own gambits with f5 here. So I tried to play e4 e5 d4 game as well. Its not very correct and I stopped using that soon, but im sure I had position with e4 e5 d4 exd4 at least 50 times on board, But i never had the idea to get my f pawn and move to f4. Why? Its so logicall! I want to play agressively as white, and there is a problem after taking on d4 with my queen, and c3 gambit is also very risky. So why not f4? I want to thank you to show me this. The possitions are very similar as in other e4 e5 openings, but. I have f4, i can play knight to f3 soon, so its safe. There are many traps, but the possitions are quite easy and typical. And the best... my opponents will be not prepeared as well, can be often very surprised and lose their time. Im so excied cause I was sure after 5 seconds, it will be my main line in e4 e5. According your opinion, why this opening is not often played and whats the main problem there? Thank you very much!

[@KA54the]

4:24 THE ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@rogerbruce2896]

before you tell us what the hard move is, I would probably sack the rook for a check. But if you did not say there was a better move I would have probably taking with a queen. Once you gave me that hint I got it instantly. That is my problem, I don't think deep enough.

[@thehuman682]

What if our opponent just saw this vid and just moved to f8 or d7 or smthng really wild

[@wolfhard2420]

Tried this gambit in my last tournament for the first time. It was declined and I got hammered! 😂😂😂

[@iwersonsch5131]

Against this e4 f4 center I want to play Ne7 and d5

[@theUroshman]

When I know that there's a winning move, I am pretty good at finding them, so it took me about 15 seconds to find that Rc8 (at 4:33), after checking some other possibilities in the position, that weren't as good. I don't know if I would see it in the actual game without knowing that there IS a winning move, especially in the heat of the moment, and God forbid, run into zeitnot (time trouble).

[@palsada1166]

A little bit of my story. After many years out of chess, i picked it up last year. I began to steadily increase my elo, getting pretty good for someone who hasnt played in about a decade. I even started going to play otb chess in my community. After reading books and finding resources online, i came across this channel. Very interesting openings, rarely see them. Seems interesting, i subscribe. I watch some videos, try some openings, doesnt seem to be working. No biggie, maybe im doing it wrong. I buckle down and try harder, study these moves more. Nope, now im dropping elo, oh no. But the win rate cannot be lying, im just an idiot, doing these lessons incorrectly. I double down once more. Now I've dropped 150 elo in 2 weeks after steadily climbing for months. Just completely stopped playing. Chess isnt fun anymore. Fast forward 2 months, and now I'm a personal mission. Do this over and over again until people actually play like they are "supposed" to in thr video. I've dropped 300 elo but I no longer care. I dont play chess to win anymore or enjoy it. I play chess trying to find the elusive person who actually plays the most popular moves like in these videos.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

It's normal for chess Elo to fluctuate, and your journey is a testament to that. If you persist your Elo will go up. Here is a free masterclass that will help. chess-teacher.net/improve-chess-instantly/

[@elperro3683]

In other versions of this gambit, I see that a3 is often one of the early moves for white; why is this?

[@yuriys5642]

This guy has awesome stuff