Milner-Barry Gambit

E1023941

The Milner-Barry Gambit is an aggressive chess opening line in the French Defense where White sacrifices a pawn in the center to gain rapid development and attacking chances.

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Statements (39)

Predicate Object
instanceOf chess opening
gambit
opening variation in the French Defense
arisesAfter French Defense: Advance Variation NERFINISHED
belongsToOpeningFamily French Defense NERFINISHED
character aggressive
sharp
tactical
color White
commonMisconception often confused with the Milner-Barry Gambit in the French Tarrasch (cxd4 line)
counteredBy accurate defensive play and timely piece exchanges by Black
ECOCode C02
C03
evaluation dangerous as a surprise weapon
objectively somewhat dubious at top level
namedAfter Sir Philip Stuart Milner-Barry NERFINISHED
requires good calculation skills
knowledge of concrete theory
startingMoves 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 Qc7 8.Qxg7 Rg8 9.Qxh7 cxd4
strategicTheme attack on Black king
central pawn sacrifice for initiative
open g-file and h-file for rook and queen
pressure on the g7 pawn
rapid development
thematicWeakness White’s exposed king if attack fails
White’s weakened queenside pawn structure
timePeriodOfOrigin 20th century
typicalPawnSacrifice White often sacrifices the c3 pawn GENERATED
White sacrifices the d4 pawn GENERATED
typicalPiecePlacement White bishop developed to d3 GENERATED
White knight on f3 GENERATED
White queen on g4 or g3 GENERATED
White rooks on g1 and e1 GENERATED
typicalPlanForBlack accept pawn sacrifice and consolidate extra material GENERATED
return material at a good moment to reach a safe endgame GENERATED
typicalPlanForWhite castle kingside quickly and launch kingside attack GENERATED
use open lines to attack Black king GENERATED
usedBy club players seeking attacking chances against the French Defense

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Stuart Milner-Barry hasEponym Milner-Barry Gambit