King's Gambit (2 ... f6?!)

The following game (a personal game in which I played the King's Gambit as White) is an analysis of how to play against 2 ... f6 in the King's Gambit. 

1. e4 e5 2. f4 f6?! (D)




The relatively weak move 2 ... f6 is usually played by players for two main reasons:

(1) The opponent wants to steer the game away from what they think a King's Gambit player is comfortable with.
(2) The opponent is uncomfortable playing against the King's Gambit.

The move White responded with is 3. Nf3, a good developmental move that a Queen's Gambit player might be inclined to play but definitely not the best one (more on that below). The game continued with accurate move play 3 ... Nc6 4. Bc4 and then Black played h6??. White responded with 5. fxe5 (better would have been Nh4 or Nxe5) Nxe5?? loses the game (fxe5 keeps Black in the game with maybe a slight advantage to White). The game finished 6. Nxe5 fxe5 (D) and here White has a forced mate in 5.



7. Qh5+ g6 8. Qxg6+ Ke7 9. Qf7+ Kd6 10. Qd5+ Ke7 11. Qxe5#

After 2 ... f6 White should immediately play 3. fxe5 leaving Black with two responses which do not leave him at a clear disadvantage: (A) Qe7 and (B) Nc6.

If Black plays 3 ... fxe5?? White is completely winning after 4. Qh5+. Responding with 4 ... g6 loses the rook after Qxe5+ and 4 ... Ke7 also leads to a completely losing position which, after White takes on e5 with check, leads to moves such as Bc4+, Qf5+, d4+, and the important move (although not necessary because White is already completely winning) Qf7 leads to a quick checkmate for White.

(A) 3 ... Qe7 4. Nc3 fxe5 5. Bc4 Nf6 6. d3 Nc6 7. Bg5 Na5 8. Nd5 Qd6 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Qf3 Nxc4 11. dxc4 Be7 12. 0-0-0 leaves White with a significantly better position without too much effort. .

(B) 3 ... Nc6 4. exf6 Nxf6 5. Nc3.White loses a tempo (not quite bad as losing a tempo with Black) but will be up a pawn for the rest of the game.