The King's Gambit, Muzio Variation

MARSHALL vs. MAROCZY
Vienna, 1903

1. e4, e5
2. f4, exf4
3. Nf3, g5
4. Bc4, g4
5. Nc3, gxf3
6. Qxf3, d5

With a material advantage, Black can afford to give up a pawn in order to gain time for development.

7. Nxd5, c6
8. Nxf4, Qf6

Threatening 9. ....Qd4 winning another piece if White castles.

9. c3, Bh6

Black had a better line in 9....Qh4+, 10. g3 Bg4, 11. Qf2 Qe7 etc.

10. d4, Ne7
11. 0-0, 0-0

12. Nd5 ......

A neat surprise.  Black has little choice, for on 12....Qxf3, 13. Nxe7+ regains the piece with a winning advantage. 

12.......Nxd5
13. Qxf6, Nxf6
14. Bxh6 ....

If now 14......Nxe4, 15. Bxf8 Nd2, 16. Bxf7+ Kxf8, 17. Be6+ Nxf1, 8. Rxf1+ Ke7, 19. Bxc8 and the threat of Bxb7 is absolutely decisive.

14. .....N8d7
15. Bxf8, Kxf8
16. e5, Resigns

On 16......Nd5, 17. Bxd5 cxd5, 18. e6 Nb6, 19. Rxf7+ etc. not to mention an overwhelming position.  This little game abounds in bright ideas.

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The King's Gambit, Muzio Variation

The Muzio Gambit is rarely played nowadays.  During the Romantic Era, however, this lively opening, involving as it does the sacrifice of a piece on the fifth move, was played frequently even against very good players.  Here is an example in which Andressen, an attacking master, is brought to his knees in mere 17 moves.

ZUKERTORT vs. ANDERSSEN
Breslau, 1865

1. e4, e5
2. f4, exf4
3. Nf3, g5
4. Bc4, g4
5. 0-0 ....

After Ne5, Qh4ch the attack passes to Black.

5. .... Qe7

Black still maintains a threat to win a piece, as he holds Qc5 in reserve, winning White's exposed Bishop.

6. Nc3 !? ....

The idea behind this interesting move is apparently that after 6.... Qc5+, 7. d4 Qxc4, 8. Ne5 Qe6, 9. Nd5 Kd8, 10. Bxf4 White will have a fierce attack in return for the sacrificed piece.

6. ..... gxf3
7. d4, d6
8. Nd5, Qd7
9. Qxf3, Nc6
10. Qxf4, Nd8
11. Qg3!  ...

White's lead in development is so great that it negates, at least for the time being, his material loss.

11.....c6
12. Qxg8!, Rxg8
13. Nf6+, Ke7
14. Nxg8+ ....

Black's King cannot run away.

14. .....  Ke8
15. Nf6+, Ke7
16. Nxd7, Bxd7
17. Bg5+, Resigns

Black has nothing to live for.  If 17..... Ke8, 18. Bxd8 Rxd8, 19. Rxf7

A gem of a game.

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