The Halloween Gambit - Ideas and Concepts | The Best Win Rate in the Four Knights Game!

[@DunklerZebralord]

Gotta be honest that wall of 8 pawns was seriously impressive

[@erezsolomon3838]

Made a nice shape

[@thomasgrabowski2202]

its actually scary lol.

[@misharatkevich9808]

A lot of unsound tricky openings have very specific tactics going on, and if they miss, it just fails completely. Halloween Gambit is interesting in that there's no way it's sound (both engine and theory agree on this) but the positional compensation is actually long-term and not just "avoid these traps". That gives it a different feel.

[@stkosta2482]

Most gambits are like that tbh

[@DavidEmerling79]

That's often the term used to say that the position is roughly equal and there's not much theory from this point on.

[@DavidEmerling79]

I think that one sentence sums up the Halloween Gambit quite succinctly: "It's surprisingly playable." I know I've lost to it more than I've successfully defended against it. Usually, players who play the Halloween Gambit know a lot about it. There's very few defensive tries that they have not considered. It actually may be best to just give back the piece with a positional advantage. If nothing else, it will frustrate the hell out your opponent who was probably hoping for a lot of tactical opportunities.

[@doodmcswood507]

@35subsplzhelp Yea- "It's surprisingly playable." Then he talked about it more in depth after giving the one-sentence summary.

[@suba5779]

⁠​⁠@tintinyoutube2787u fr gunna wait for someone to sum it up rather than just read the rest in 20 seconds

[@shambhav9534]

There's actually a double Halloween which is double worse. It can be played when black responds to the Italian with the 2 knights defence and then we sack the Italian light bishop for the f7 pawn and then sac the knight for the e5 pawn. Then play d4, e5, castle, then f4. Go on a pawn storm attack. It's bad but works great in bullet or hype bullet where the pawns act as spikes. Stockfish, on moderate depth actually gives the knight back. Here's a sample main line: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Bxf7+ Kxf7 5. Nxe5+ Nxe5 6. d4 Ng6 7. e5 Ng8 8. O-O d5 9. f4 *

[@shambhav9534]

If anyone's wondering, as far as I know, I discovered this piece of junk.

[@frostypotatos180]

honestly it seems kinda like the jerome except even more unsound

[@shambhav9534]

@@frostypotatos180 It was indeed inspired by an idiot who tried to probably play the Jerome in the 2 knights. 😂. It does work even better than Jerome in bullet though. I've tried. Most of the time the opponent is so startled by the pawn storm in the centre that you win on time or get a pawn fork.

[@temporarynickname]

Its just a jerome gambit but d4 instead of Qh5 (Qh5 is better)

[@shambhav9534]

@@temporarynickname Qh5 is blunder, not better.

[@TeeGar]

I'm always amused by the phrase "now we're just playing chess" that's used in many of these and other chess videos I've seen. Arent we all just playing chess from move 1?

[@ChessVibesOfficial]

It just means that you're not in any opening lines any more.

[@escapedlunatic27]

I think most for the first 20 moves or so of many GM games, both of them are checking whether the other can remember what they prepared.

[@suburbanindie]

@@ChessVibesOfficial Mid-game, essentially.

[@georgebush6002]

Some of my games make me question if I am playing chess

[@davidsandrock7826]

@@ChessVibesOfficial So “now we’re playing chess” means “business as usual”?

[@AiR1DaN]

My #2 favorite gambit besides the Evan's Gambit. Thank you for posting! Would love to see the Frankenstein-Dracula variation :)

[@SnipeyGaming]

Oh boy do I have a video for you 😂

[@robelso5646]

@@SnipeyGaming what is it?

[@a_leafdanial1181]

Doesnt reply lol

[@obrray-5519]

Literally played this right after watching the vid and it ended in a crazy mate. Thank you for the fun ideas. You’re making chess 10 times more fun.

[@Jackonian]

Another line I've seen which wasn't touched on here is when the knight on E5 goes to G4 after being booted by D4 or F4, - it's within scope of the queen but defended by the other knight on F6. If you then push the E pawn to E5 attacking that knight to boots the defender, either the F6 knight retreats and you win the G4 knight, or the G4 knight can sac for that pawn, get taken by D4/F4, and then F6 still needs to move away from the pawn attack.

[@unnamed7225]

Nelson: we're not playing computers, we're playing people cheater: *laughs in Nc7#*

[@Yepitsmedude]

Need a book about this 💯 one of the best chess videos I’ve seen

[@nostalgia1672]

6:07 queen e7 pinning the pawn.

[@TheoEkman]

I think simply play Qe2 Ng8, d6 cxd6, Nd5! - and white is probably winning.

[@jeremy61313]

The problem I ran into with this gambit was if black advances the bishop there's a potential checkmate in a couple moves with the queen, unless you develop the king side bishop or king side pawns on black squares. The computer found it on me and mated in like a couple moves after they advance the bishop. I was shocked until I realized that it put your king in a box without blockers, because the queen, central pawns, and knights are all out of position, but the king side bishop is on the wrong color to defend an aggressive queen.

[@exbricadlo]

thats what it is, prevent black from advancing towards your king! in these types, development is only a big problem for black/ if black somehow managed to develop his bishops nicely, you're game 'll be dead 'u will be lost

[@andreyvujkovikj2977]

that gambit was an epic one.Never have i ever seen a tactic this genious

[@TheEthikos]

I don't get it. Like...I understand when you say the pawns in the middle are rough, they control a lot of space, etc. But what is stopping black from just pushing a pawn forward and forcing white to capture or stagger those pawns? I always follow along and think, yea that makes sense...get the diagonal, control the center...but then we move on and I'm thinking, "what the hell do I do now?!"

[@gdaleksw4041]

5:33 there is also Ng4 and the queen cant take the knight because its protected by the other knight

[@MayraCma]

Not really, white can follow up with e5, black would essentially be giving back the piece there, but with the White's positional advantage

[@OregonMikeH]

Hay YA Nelson, thanks for such a smooth Demo and expanding on the Gambit with the extended, exceptional Pawn Play. Presented so well, friend, it's not a Video I'll forget. As Always, Positive Vibes your way from Oregon with much gratitude, Mike.

[@ChessVibesOfficial]

Thanks, Mike!

[@Lak1148]

Perfect timing for Halloween

[@y.t1670]

It’s almost Halloween time 🎃 👻

[@PabloLopezDuque]

2 opponents hsve played this gambit against me, I always fall for it, I didnt know it was an actual gambit 😂 Nelson could you do a video explainning the main ideas an principles behind the Scotch Opening? Please!

[@kaythia-s9h]

I'm going to start playing this in the Four Knights! Thanks, Nelson!

[@oldsuitman7762]

this comes up alot, will try it

[@erickhard9379]

Lol, my first time giving it a try and my oponent resigned on my move 6 pawn to d5. Cool video!

[@ProMeerder]

I tried to learn some of the lines in this when I was about 1200. There is usually only one move that isn't losing and the ideas were just too advanced for my calculation skills. Maybe I'll try it again one day, but right now there are other fun and perhaps more instructive openings I wanna explore.

[@j.thomas1420]

Thank you ! I will try it at my next blitz tournament. 9:44 here I recommand the very strong *11.f4 !* wich set a lot of deadly traps.

[@y-adouradou446]

Im playing it everytime i have the opportunity with the 4 knights opening. Got amazing results all the time, and it's a very simple opening to learn, with very little variations so a good weapon in the arsenal. The games are also very pleasant to play everytime

[@austingranger4223]

How did you capture the pawn at 7:53? The pawn was past the other ones diagonal square. Im so confused

[@mango143_]

I'm late but it's a move called en passant where if a pawn moves 2 squares forwards next to your pawn you can capture it but it can only be taken on the first turn.

[@treschilenosch6990]

yesss finally :D I‘ve been playing this since the Eric Rosen Video and actually I‘m quite successful with it because nobody knows how to play against it

[@bekuadro]

I'll give it a try... I'm a gambit player but never tried this one... I've always too scared to sac a whole piece! thanks

[@funkypiano1985]

Interesting gambit. I will show it to my Chess Club students tomorrow.

[@KDlearns]

I had a viewer challenge me to play this Gambit yesterday! He’s probably a fan of yours!

[@CVHFitness]

10:06 what should I play if knight h4 is played (theoretically)

[@raifegeozay687]

Qxf7#

[@mgutierrez6762]

5:45 what about knight G4? The queen can’t take because it’s being defended but at the same time you can move a pawn out to kick it arround

[@twinwankel]

Excellent video. Thanks.

[@stevekaczynski3793]

12:19 - The possibility of the gambit turning into a White pawn storm is among its attractions.

[@idontwantmynameinhere]

it certainly looks interesting, and although the engine hates it (because somehow engines defend almost every position), it looks like you get quite some play for the knight. Though I had hoped you had looked at Qf3 Nh4, because to me it's unclear where the queen is going next

[@CloudsArePotatoes]

Love playing this gambit. But after moving to D4 with the pawn I’ve also seen players move the knight from E5 to Kg4 and trick the queen and the knights are connected. But in any case, white is ahead even with knight to G4.

[@virdrae]

My favorite opening! Got quite a few tools here (hehe) Thanks :3

[@cudomoney]

there are variations that are also good if they refuse to play the 4 nights. this can also be forced on black side and you steal tempo. edit: my before watching thoughts ^

[@cormachughes3171]

So one thing I seem to encounter a lot after e5 pressuring the knight, is they play Qe7, pinning the pawn, and then it usually turns into a big mess of trading lots of pieces

[@danielengelhardt7453]

Another great video!! Keep at it!!

[@lucaspanto9650]

You know you fucked up when the other guy has 8 pawns on the 4th and 5th rank

[@themagm1673]

6:05, I tried this against a guy who went black, he just goes Neg4, e5 Bc5 and it gets extremely dangerous. Is there a video I could watch against that line?

[@e.j.bosman7728]

At 4:30: Why is the Knight > G4 not an option for black?

[@o_o4197]

G3, h3 pushes it back developing more pieces.

[@metalcoti]

at 6:07 which is the best move if the other player plays queen e7 pinning the pawn instead of moving the knight back?

[@o_o4197]

Qe2 seems fine

[@o_o4197]

Or Be2

[@luxxianalux6769]

Hi happy Halloween, it is really nice to watch your video on halloween gambit on halloween. I’m new to chess and I’m really interested to have a little research on this opening and apply it to the actual gameplays. Your video clearly show me how to use this opening and set a strategy to win, which is so informative for me. The little pawns marching on are like an army of undying creatures or zombies, and surely it is not easily for black to eliminate them.. I’ve subscribed, thank you.

[@ChessVibesOfficial]

Welcome aboard!

[@Frenchythefry]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nxe5 Nxe5 5.d4 Nc6 6.d5 Ne5 7.f4 Ng6 8.e5 Qe7 What do I do after this?? I’m unsure

[@thejames666]

This is similar to the Vienna Gambit. When they use their Queen on e7 to pin your pawn to your King, you simply match it with Qe2 to break the pin.

How to play against this gambit?

[@thunderingice22]

So if they move Bb4 on move #6 then this doesn't work as well... correct? Cause that's what happened to me. Its just a trade off and fairly equal developement.

[@theodale1710]

6:36 How about Queen e7 so that the pawn cant take the knight?

[@haidanglamminh9747]

Hope to see a video about this gambit from black’s point of view

[@cdrsmm1909]

More gambits, time to have some fun :)

[@gabrielfilip3274]

Thank you so much! I just won my first game with this gambit.

[@chx75]

This is part of my repertoire too

[@seilaoquemvc2]

lol! I went to test this out after seeing this video. and I'm 4-0-1 from that opening. lol. great stuff.

[@rondid]

I find the main line unplayable, even if the engine gives black a -2 advantage, the correct moves are so unintuitive. So i play this (which is basically a transposition of the Scotch): 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nxe5 Nxe5 5. d4 Nc6 6. d5 Bb4 7. dxc6... Engine still gives a -0,4 advantage to black, ok it's not -2, but the following moves are so much easier to play. What do you think?

[@ianh3385]

I find it funny that the higher you go in Elo, the more your games look like lower Elo games. That wall of pawns looks like a tactic a 200 would do (as it feels correct). It just shows you that intuition actually transfers to real success given enough practice as you are able to appropriately defend.

[@io-gamer]

what if black plays knight to e7 or f6 at 8:09

[@ruyee-the-child]

just asking, what if knight plays g4 instead of g6 or c6?

[@jonniriepponen6248]

I have heard abaut this when i studied vienna

[@bocz4317]

wow that game u played is so cool

[@reyhananiz5099]

Could you make a four knights video for black?

[@gabrielneyd8612]

Halloween Gambit, a perfect gambit to use for this halloween!

[@counterreaper9521]

I got a question if the enemy team made a different movement do I have to change my plan?

[@davidmurvai40]

Wonderful video

[@suburbanindie]

What program are you using to broadcast this game board? It's really cool.

[@DaltonDaDigga]

12:20 that looks like an absolutely miserable position for black. I think I’d just set up some type of blockade avoid trades and try and get a draw

[@stevekaczynski3793]

I have won more often than not with it. Despite the material loss, its aggression often puts opponents on the back foot.

[@daniloapostolov-dacatv1536]

Now we need a Christmas gambit.

[@dheyaamejri7285]

What happens if they play queen e7 instead of retreating the knight ro g8

[@drcgaming4195]

ngl i really like the end music

[@9-H]

Two months later can you show us the christmas gambit

[@9-H]

I’m just kidding don’t take that personal

[@QDWhite]

I won a game playing this today! After I played d4, they opted for Nc6 and it didn’t work out too well for them.

[@alixx_legenddark_xx2819]

Small question: why can’t they play Neg4 after d4?

[@JERRYR708]

Sleepy Hollow Gambit where the headless horseman needs the pawns head before going back to sleep.

[@K3GNX58]

Can't the knight to to g4 after we play d5?

[@kaldrazadrim]

I’ve been playing this gambit. Players below 1600 don’t know what to do against it as black

[@rjgamer8226]

Bro what do we do after knight to g4

[@captainphoenix]

After Qf3, why not Nh4?

[@keinlieb3818]

I just had a Halloween gambit, but I played e5 instead of d5... didn't go so well.

[@emmanuelabel1226]

I had a game which went thus: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nxe5 Nxe5 5. d4 Ng6 6. e5 Ng8 7. Qf3 and then my opponent played this surprising move ... c6. I was totally lost after that move that I ended up playing a lot of blunders and eventually lost the game 😓. Please, does anyone know a good continuation to c6 after Qf3? It'll be really helpful

[@hiiamtheclydicier]

i actually played this after this dropped i won

[@tandinghaotrephonbroadrick8362]

"oh no! my Caballero! (Edit) its spanish for knight

[@andrewmays3988]

HEY!! You're absolutely right!!! We are playing a game to have some fun and making some questionable, unpredictable moves can give our chess buddies something to think about. The Halloween Gambit is worth a Hail Mary pass every once in awhile just to see what happens as the game unfolds. Thanks Nelson, for ideas that make Chess fun!!!😇

[@JrbWheaton]

I’m guessing I’m gonna see this a lot as black over the next few weeks so I’m gonna study up on how to refute this as black ;)

[@danneltheflannel]

I think if you find a way to give a knight back, but develop one of your own pieces doing it you can play for the draw/endgame.

[@randakarim4431]

1:28 what if bishop takes pawn and doesn’t care he got protection

[@sanathrayala2745]

What about knight g4 you didn't cover that case

[@chrismagsmags]

That positioning around 12:10 is super weird. Attack of the Pawns!

[@abhijitchatterji7587]

What if they decide to play knight to e4?

[@cuber1official]

What about Ng4?

[@nblack2867]

I'll probably never play this because I'm a King's Gambit player, so I don't run into this position often as White, but I'll definitely keep this in mind for black!

[@Kneem]

Oh no my repertoire!

[@usernametaken017]

When you trade queens, can't you just capture with the knight instead?

[@stevenvary7324]

Hi Nelson. The nicknames from other game say somthin for you? Golbez Relfson Fouracle

[@zanti4132]

I've seen this before: a master level player with a genuine love for chess starts a video series with legitimate instructional value. After awhile, he starts to realize he will get a lot more hits with videos featuring openings based on quick attacks. The master will demonstrate how great the plan is by showing you how he beat another master with the opening in a bullet game, or he will show you a game between two 900-rated players where the guy playing the opening gets a quick checkmate. The problem is, these openings are usually dubious ideas that leave you with a bad position if your opponent doesn't fall for some trick early in the game. There is a decent chance it will work in a bullet game or against a low-rated player, but don't even think of trying it in a serious game. The master certainly know this - you'll never see him play the line in a tournament.

[@kraknoix0075]

Yeah but 95% of his viewers are under 1800 so at a level where these gambits are viable

[@jaishukla6746]

this is a crushing game

[@gishinaround745]

I’m 1400 and will be playing Halloween gambit exclusively this month wish me luck!

[@websat26]

Bruh i got a chess ad but i thought it was just the video

[@varunhcr2815]

Next month be like- the christmas gambit jk

[@customarylover3857]

Oddly enough, I'm rated around 750 elo and it doesn't always work. Sure, I've beaten some opponents senseless with it, but I don't always get to play white. And I sometimes wncounter lines not accounted for whenever I try it out.

[@MZIH]

What about ng4?

[@MZIH]

5:41