Answers.Body: <p>The gambit doesn't lose but it also doesn't gain much advantage. Black can play Nc6 and transpose into the two knight defense which is seen in the Italian and the scotch gambit. These lines have a lot of theory and grandmasters are comfortable that they can draw them. Thus, white struggles to find an advantage using this opening at the top level.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2017-02-07T07:31:04.433Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2017-02-07T07:31:04.433Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: CognisMantis
Answers.Body: <p>It suggests that strong players believe it doesn't give White much of a chance for an advantage.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2017-02-04T21:40:41.687Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2017-02-04T21:40:41.687Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: ToddM
Body: <p>The curious Urusov Gambit seems something of a gimmick.  A great article on it appears <a href="http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~goeller/urusov/gambit/" rel="noreferrer">here</a></p>
  
  <pre>
  <code>
  
  [Event "Urusov Gambit"]
  [Site "Tehran IRI"]
  [Date "2016.10.28"]
  [Round "4.20"]
  [White "Mashmooli, Kian"]
  [Black "Nasri, Amin"]
  [Result "0-1"]
  [WhiteElo "2137"]
  [BlackElo "2248"]
  [ECO "C44"]
  [FEN ""]
  
  1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nf3
  
  </code>
  </pre>
  
  <p>The same article observers "<strong>With that the opening fell into disfavour at the highest levels of master competition, and today it is mostly seen in club play, where it racks up quick scores against inexperienced or unprepared opponents.</strong>"</p>
  
  <p>Certainly there are many chess sites advocating its adoption as a quick way for WHITE to get ahead.  It's considered a common '<em>opening trick</em>'  Yet "<strong>Estrin's analysis revealed, however, a possible equalizing method for Black (with Panov's 4....d5) and suggested that some of the deepest lines might end in equality with best play.</strong>"</p>
  
  <p>Even with (4....d5) it seems difficult for WHITE to re-obtain equality. The opening can evolve into a Two Knights Defense (with  4....Nc6), albeit with a pawn exchanged for tempo.</p>
  
  <p><strong>QUESTION</strong>:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Does lack of play at senior levels really suggest the gambit is not sound? Does anyone know of GMs who favour such a gambit?  And would anyone be able to take us through some of the possible lines from this point as WHITE?</p>
  </blockquote>
  
Tags: <opening><gambits><two-knights>
Title: The Urusov Gambit
ThreadText: # The Urusov Gambit
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2016-12-28)
  
  The curious Urusov Gambit seems something of a gimmick. A great article on it appears [here](http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~goeller/urusov/gambit/)
  
  ```
  
  [Event "Urusov Gambit"]
  [Site "Tehran IRI"]
  [Date "2016.10.28"]
  [Round "4.20"]
  [White "Mashmooli, Kian"]
  [Black "Nasri, Amin"]
  [Result "0-1"]
  [WhiteElo "2137"]
  [BlackElo "2248"]
  [ECO "C44"]
  [FEN ""]
  
  1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nf3
  
  ```
  
  The same article observers "**With that the opening fell into disfavour at the highest levels of master competition, and today it is mostly seen in club play, where it racks up quick scores against inexperienced or unprepared opponents.**"
  
  Certainly there are many chess sites advocating its adoption as a quick way for WHITE to get ahead. It's considered a common '*opening trick*' Yet "**Estrin's analysis revealed, however, a possible equalizing method for Black (with Panov's 4....d5) and suggested that some of the deepest lines might end in equality with best play.**"
  
  Even with (4....d5) it seems difficult for WHITE to re-obtain equality. The opening can evolve into a Two Knights Defense (with 4....Nc6), albeit with a pawn exchanged for tempo.
  
  **QUESTION**:
  
  > Does lack of play at senior levels really suggest the gambit is not sound? Does anyone know of GMs who favour such a gambit? And would anyone be able to take us through some of the possible lines from this point as WHITE?
  
  **Tags:** opening, gambits, two-knights
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2017-02-07. Score: 4
  
  The gambit doesn't lose but it also doesn't gain much advantage. Black can play Nc6 and transpose into the two knight defense which is seen in the Italian and the scotch gambit. These lines have a lot of theory and grandmasters are comfortable that they can draw them. Thus, white struggles to find an advantage using this opening at the top level.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2017-02-04. Score: 1
  
  It suggests that strong players believe it doesn't give White much of a chance for an advantage.
  
  
  ---
  
  