Swiss Gambit

The Swiss Gambit is a chess opening which is an offshoot of Bird's Opening (1.f4) and begins with the moves:


 * 1. f4 f5
 * 2. e4

Published theory
The following were the main lines of the Swiss Gambit given by F. A. Lange in 1859:
 * 2...fxe4 3.Qh5+
 * 2...fxe4 3.f5
 * 2...fxe4 3.Bc4
 * 2...fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d3

Polish theoretician Alexander Wagner (1868–1942) published an article entitled ''A New Gambit. The Swiss Gambit'' in 1912. The Wagner Gambit begins with the moves: 1.f4 f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.g4.

Other uses
The term "Swiss Gambit" is also used colloquially to describe a strategy for Swiss system tournaments. In a "Swiss Gambit", a player loses or draws against weaker players early in the tournament, in the hope of being paired against weaker opposition in later rounds and finishing in the prize money.