Tennison Gambit
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Moves | 1.Nf3 d5 2.e4 or 1.e4 d5 2.Nf3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ECO | A06 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Named after | Otto Mandrup Tennison | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Parent | Zukertort Opening | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Synonym(s) | Abonyi Gambit Black Rook's Gambit Lemberg Gambit Lviv Gambit Polish Gambit Zukertort Gambit ICBM Gambit ICBM Variation |
The Tennison Gambit is a chess opening in which White gambits a pawn.[1][2][3][4] The opening moves begin with either the Zukertort Opening:[5]
or the Scandinavian Defense:
The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings code for the Tennison Gambit is A06.
History
The first person to significantly research this opening was chess amateur Otto Mandrup Tennison (1834–1909).[6][7] Tennison was born in Denmark, studied in Germany and moved to the United States in 1854. There, he played in the chess clubs of New Orleans. Many strong players picked up the idea from the first half of the 20th century.
After 2...dxe4 3.Ng5
- White intends to tempt Black to play 3...Nf6?! After 4.d3 exd3 5.Bxd3 h6??, White wins with 6.Nxf7 Kxf7 7.Bg6+ Kxg6 8.Qxd8. This continuation has been referred to as the "Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Variation", coined by YouTuber Bosnian Ape Society in a video in which instead of 8.Qxd8, White launches an anti-tank missile at Black.[8][9] The name "Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Variation", along with "ICBM Variation" or "ICBM Gambit", has been used by noted players such as IM Levy Rozman.[9] After 4.Bc4 e6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Ngxe4 Nxe4 7.Nxe4 b5 8.Be2 Bb7 9.Bf3 White had the advantage in Ermenkov–Bonchev, Bulgaria 1970.
- 3...e5! 4.Nxe4 f5! favors Black.[10]
- 3...Bf5 and Black has the better position. A continuation might be 4.Nc3 Nf6 and Black keeps the advantage in a solid position.
Notable games
Otto M. Tennison vs. NN, New Orleans 1891:
1. Nf3 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Ng5 f5 4. Bc4 Nh6 5. Nxh7 Rxh7 6. Qh5+ Kd7 7. Qg6 Rh8 8. Be6+ Kc6 9. Bxc8+ Qd6 10. Qe8+ Kb6 11. Qa4 1–0 If 11...Qc6 then 12.Qb3+ Ka6 13.Nc3 any 14.Bxb7+; 11...e6 12.a3, etc. (Tennison)
See also
References
- ^ Schiller, Eric. Gambit Opening Repertoire for White – Tennison Gambit (pp. 171–78). Cardoza Publishing. ISBN 0940685787
- ^ Virginia Newsletter (1998). pp. 13–15
- ^ 365.com – A06: Tennison (Lemberg, Zukertort) gambit
- ^ Tennison gambit Collection Chessgames.com
- ^ Reti Opening A06 Chessgames.com
- ^ Wall, Bill. Tennison Gambit.
- ^ Otto M. Tennison Chessgames.com
- ^ "Tennison Gambit Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Variation". YouTube. 11 October 2020.
- ^ a b "INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE GAMBIT". YouTube. 5 December 2020.
- ^ Benjamin, Joel; Schiller, Eric (1987). "Tennison Gambit". Unorthodox Openings. Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 79. ISBN 0-02-016590-0.
Further reading
- Bekemann, Uwe. (2016). Better late than never – The Tennison Gambit. Schachverlag Ullrich. ISBN 978-3959209663
- Lutes, John. (2002). Tennison Gambit. Chess Enterprises. ISBN 9780945470557