Evans Gambit

Overview

The Evans Gambit (4. b4) is a swashbuckling 19th-century weapon in which White sacrifices a wing pawn to seize the center with c3 and d4 and open lines toward Black's king. Revived by Kasparov in the 1990s, it remains one of the most dangerous tries against the Italian.

Position after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4

Key Ideas

• After 4...Bxb4 5. c3, White gains a tempo on the bishop and builds a big center with d4.
• White trades a pawn for rapid development and attacking chances against f7 and the black king.
• Black can decline with 4...Bb6 for a calmer game, or accept and return the pawn for safety.
• Accurate defense neutralizes the attack, so White must play with energy and precision.

Main Variations

History

Invented by Welsh sea captain William Davies Evans in 1827, the gambit was a staple of romantic-era chess and famously resurrected by Garry Kasparov to crush Viswanathan Anand in a celebrated 1995 game.