King's Gambit, Fischer Defense

Fischer Defense
abcdefgh
8
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Moves1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d6
ECOC34
Origin1961, Bobby Fischer
Named afterBobby Fischer
ParentKing's Gambit

The Fischer Defense to the King's Gambit is a chess opening variation that begins with the moves:

1. e4 e5
2. f4 exf4
3. Nf3 d6

Although 3...d6 was previously known, it did not become a major variation until Bobby Fischer advocated it in a famous 1961 article in the first issue of the American Chess Quarterly. By playing this move, Black prevents the e5 square from being occupied by White's knight. This situation occurs in the Kieseritzky Gambit (3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5), a line which Fischer aimed to avoid. White almost always replies with either 4.d4 or 4.Bc4.

In the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, the Fischer Defense is given the code C34.