What is the Rousseau Gambit?
In the Italian Game, Black plays f5. Black attacks e4 at once and offers the f-pawn. The cost is the black king: castling kingside gets harder, and with correct play White is better.
History
It is named after Eugène Rousseau, the strongest player in New Orleans in the early 1840s. In 1845 he lost to Charles Stanley in the first match for the title of United States champion.
Key ideas
For Black
- Hit e4 before White can defend it.
- After a capture on f5, push the e-pawn to e4 to gain time.
- Push the d-pawn to d5 to block the c4 bishop.
For White
- Open the center with the d-pawn before Black's king is safe.
- Or defend e4 with the d-pawn and win the f5 pawn later.
- Watch for a queen check on h5 and a knight jump to g5.
Main tries for White
- d4 The strongest reply. White opens the center while Black's king is still exposed.
- d3 White defends e4 and waits to win the f5 pawn.
- exf5 Black answers e4, and White's best is Nd4.
- Nc3 Natural, but it lets Black win material with a pawn fork on d5.