Are you fearless in your approach to chess openings?
Do you like to attack your opponents from the very beginning?
Are you happy to take calculated risks?
Do you loathe trivial positional chess?
Do you feel the need to sacrifice pawns early in the game?
Are you a Gambiteer?
If the answer to these questions is 'yes!'then this is the book for you!
In his two-volume Gambiteer series, opening expert Nigel Davies produces a complete opening repertoire which is certainly not for the feint-hearted: uncompromising and wild attacking ideas for both colours. This first volume deals with a gambit-style approach for White; the second volume will concentrate on an ambitious black repertoire. All of the opening lines Davies advocates in this book lead to positions of open warfare, where sharp, tactical play completely dominates dreary positional subtleties. Are you ready for the battle? Then cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!
Introduction
"Cry 'Havoc', and let slip the dogs of war" ...
William Shakespeare
I'd better say this up front so you don't buy the wrong book. If you're worried about being a pawn down or having to sacrifice the odd piece, this really isn't for you. Put it down and get that nice book on the London System. You'll like it, really you will.
If, on the other hand, your heart beats a little faster when playing through a nice win by Tal or Bronstein, then maybe this is for you. You'd like to attack your opponent's king, right? Not give them a moment's peace until they resign, or better still let you mate them? I'd better check one more time that you're willing to pay something; a pawn down is OK, right?
It should be. Having examined literally thousands of club players' games over the years, I have noticed several things:
1) The player with the more active pieces tends to win.
2) A pawn or even several pawns is rarely a decisive advantage.
3) Nobody knows much theory.
4) When faced with aggressive play, the usual reaction is to cower.
Accordingly I suggest that a different approach to that used by the 'big boys' and their opening science is in order, especially when one considers the fast time limits under which most club games are played. Activity is the key, pawns don't matter too much, and if you play something your opponent hasn't seen before he's likely to respond very passively. Therefore I suggest that gambits represent an excellent practical proposition to any club player with a decent eye for tactics.
Are you worried that these openings might not be sound? Get over it! We can deal with St Peter when we go to collect the harp, but until that time comes our chess sins can mean wins ! Not to mention that this kind of chess is a lot more fun than trying to blockade some isolated queen's pawn and exchange your opponent's good bishop. Yawn.
In this volume I present a repertoire for White based on playing 1 e4 and then going for the jugular with a variety of gambits. You'll find some interesting new ideas and original analysis by myself. The lines I suggest offer 'compensation' for any pawns or pieces offered and excellent practical chances. But the rest is up to you.
Nigel Davies
Southport, England
March 2007 | 
