Play the Morris Gambit!

GM Eric Prié
The Morris Gambit Accepted [D00] by GM Eric Prié

"What is the current status of the Morris gambit?" is a question recently asked on the ChessPub.com forum.

The answer, that this update intends to support, is: good for White in its accepted form and with an enhanced surprise value. Indeed, theory seems to have become beset by a lack of White followers 4 years ago but Black has forgotten it was because of 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 c5 3.e4 Nc6! and not 3...dxe4 4.d5!

Now 4...Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qe2 is the typical Morris Gambit Accepted approach: White wants his pawn back!

Position after 6.Qe2

He achieved this in both illustrated Game 1 (after 6...Nbd7) and illustrated Game 2 (after 6...g6) in addition to managing to achieve the d5-d6 breakthrough against a possibly suboptimal move order from Black. Under appropriate circumstances the surge of this pawn right into the enemy camp provides White with excellent play to make up for his rather "naked" queenside castle.

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