Ponderchess / Openings
Play the guided film, or select a scene to pause and study its position.
Opening
The King's Gambit in 3D
1.e4 e5 2.f4. White offers the f-pawn to deflect Black's e-pawn, open the f-file and build a full centre with d4. Black can accept or decline.
Rebuild the sequence yourself. The board responds to each move, and hints are available.
Click or drag to move · Arrow keys + Enter to play
Your turn · white to play
Select a piece, then its destination. Switch to 2D for a clear overhead view or rotate the 3D board to explore the position.
King's Gambit, move by move: e4 e5 f4
The white pieces
Aim for Nf3, d4, Bc4 and short castling, then use the f-file against f7. Recapture on f4 when you can do it with a big centre still standing.
The black pieces
Either take the pawn and return it with a well-timed ...d5, or decline with 2...Bc5 and ...d6 for a sound position. Keep an eye on the e1-h4 and a7-g1 diagonals, where White's king is weakest.
Look a little deeper · 01
After 2...exf4, the King's Gambit Accepted, White's main moves are 3.Nf3, which stops ...Qh4+, and 3.Bc4, the Bishop's Gambit, which lets the king step to f1 if Black checks.
Look a little deeper · 02
Black can decline with 2...Bc5, the Classical Variation, which places the bishop on the a7-g1 diagonal so White cannot castle kingside, or strike back with 2...d5, the Falkbeer Countergambit.
Look a little deeper · 03
Moving the f-pawn opens the e1-h4 diagonal toward White's king. Checks with ...Qh4+ and pressure on the a7-g1 diagonal are recurring themes for Black in every line.
Look a little deeper · 04
When the gambit works, White recovers the pawn on f4 or uses the half-open f-file and a strong pawn on e4 or d4 to attack f7.
King's Gambit, move by move: e4 e5 f4
Keyboard: Space pauses, the arrow keys step. Gold arrows are White's moves, violet are Black's, red rays are threats, green shows support, blue shows plans.
