An exciting compendium on chess gambits, the most popular of the chess openings, Gambit Chess Openings (GCO) completes the trilogy of chess openings with Standard Chess Openings (SCO) and Unorthodox Chess Openings (UCO) to give players the complete encyclopedia of chess openings Every important gambit opening and variation ever played and currently in vogue is here, collected together in one volume.Gambits, where one side sacrifices material, a pawn or more, for an advance in development, are the most exciting and popular openings in chess Every player uses gambits to force early action and excitement over the board, even the world champions, whose great gambits are well represented in GCO. Not only are gambits fun to play, especially at the amateur level, but they are essential to be able to defend against so the gambiteer doesn't run off with the game in a few bold strokes.Hundreds of gambits are discussed with a clear explanation of what the gambit player receives in return for the sacrificed pawn or piece. Many of these gambits are seen primarily in amateur games, where they trap the unwary, but some gambits are encountered frequently in professional contests. Gambits are ranked according to various criteria so that readers can quickly find gambits with similar characteristics to the ones they already enjoy. Includes popular favorites such as the King's Gambit, Benko Gambit, Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, Cochrane Gambit, Fried Liver Attack, Evans Gambit, Smith-Morra Gambit, Latvian Gambit and the Elephant Gambit.More than 100 complete games are included so that readers can see how the ideas behind the gambit are influential not only in the beginning of the game, but later on inits development.An essential and fun reference book for both amateur and professional players.