Practice the Halloween Gambit

The line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nxe5 Nxe5 5. d4 Nc6 6. d5 Ne7 7. e5 Nfg8 8. d6 cxd6 9. exd6 Nc6 10. Qe2+ Be7 11. dxe7

Your moves, explained

1. 1. e4 You need e4 and Nf3 and Nc3 to set up the gambit.
2. 2. Nf3 Both sides mirror each other toward the Four Knights.
3. 3. Nc3 Now Black mirrors with Nf6, and the gambit is ready.
4. 4. Nxe5 You give up a piece for two central pawns and massive tempo.
5. 5. d4 You gain tempo and start building a pawn steamroller.
6. 6. d5 Every pawn move attacks a Black piece and wins a tempo.
7. 7. e5 Both Black knights are being hunted back toward the king side.
8. 8. d6 This pawn is a monster that strangles Black's whole setup.
9. 9. exd6 The d6 pawn stays and ties down everything Black has.
10. 10. Qe2+ Black must block the check, losing material either way.
11. 11. dxe7 You win material and the gambit has fully paid off.

Key moments in the video

• 0:00 Four Knights starts
• 0:27 The gambit move
• 0:52 Gain tempo, hit knight
• 1:15 Chase Nc6 again
• 1:22 Hunt the Nf6 too
• 1:24 Pawn drives deep
• 1:26 Recapture, keep push
• 1:27 Decisive check
• 1:29 Pawn wins material

Frequently asked questions

What are the moves of the Halloween Gambit?

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nxe5 Nxe5 5. d4 Nc6 6. d5 Ne7 7. e5 Nfg8 8. d6 cxd6 9. exd6 Nc6 10. Qe2+ Be7 11. dxe7. You play White; Sacrifice the knight on e5, flood the center with pawns, and chase Black's pieces back into their own camp.

How do I practise the Halloween Gambit?

Watch Chess Talk's video, then play the line yourself on the board on this page. You make all 11 of White's moves; a wrong move is undone with a hint, and the key moments jump the video to where Chess Talk explains each move.

Do I need an account?

No. The practice is free and runs in your browser. Sign up only if you want Chess DNA to find the openings that lose you games in your own Chess.com or Lichess history.

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• King's Gambit Accepted (Chess Talk)
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The video is embedded from YouTube and belongs to Chess Talk. Chess DNA is not affiliated with the creator. Updated Nov 10, 2026.