The Colorado Gambit

Colorado Gambit 1.Nc3 e5 2.f4

Colorado Counter Gambit 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 f5

I had played the Colorado Counter Gambit (1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 f5) before, so I was curious about a new gambit which I now call the Colorado Gambit (1.Nc3 e5 2.f4) so I played a test game against the chess engine called Firefly (2330).  See game below.   Also note that the games have been analyzed by either myself, or the chess engine Deep Junior 10, or a combination of both.
 

ACCEPTED LINES

Transpose into a Keoni-Hiva Gambit
 

Keoni-Hiva Gambit by transposition
1.Nc3 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3

Whenever I have played the Colorado Gambit I have favored a transposition into the The Keoni-Hiva Gambit.

Keoni-Hiva Gambit

Line 1: 1.e3 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 exf4 4.Nf3  (Akahi Variation)
Line 2:  1.e3 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 exf4 4.Nf3 (Alua Variation)
Line 3:  1.e3 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.f4 exf4 4.Nf3 (Ekolu Variation)

Clyde Nakamura (2100) – Firefly v2.1.3 (2330)
Test Game    Game 25 min.   1/6/07

1. Nc3 e5 2. f4 {the Colorado Gambit} exf4 3. Nf3 Qf6 {better was 3...d5, I do not believe the Q belongs on f6 in this position} 4. e4 fxe3 5. Bd3 {transposing into the Keoni-Hiva Gambit} Bb4 6. O-O exd2 7. Bxd2 Qb6+ 8. Kh1 Bd6 9. Nd5 Qc5 10. c4 f6 11. b4 Qc6 {Black is getting into deeper & deeper into trouble, Whites pieces are being activated very quickly.} 12. Nd4 Qa6 13. Qe2+ Kd8 14. c5 b5 15. cxd6 (15. Rae1 Ne7 16. Nxc7 Be5 17. Nxa6 Bxa6 18. Nf3 d6 19. Nxe5 dxe5 20. a4 Kc7 21. axb5 Bb7 22. Qg4 Rd8 23. Qxg7 Rxd3 24. Qxe7+ Nd7 25. c6 Rc8 26. cxd7 Rxd7 27. b6+ Kb8 (27... axb6 28. Rc1+ Kb8 29. Qxd7 +- {mate in 8 according to Deep Fritz 8}) 28. Qxd7 {+- mate in 9 according to Deep Fritz 8}) 15... Qxd6 16. Rae1 Qf8 17. Bf4 Na6 18. Bxb5 Qf7 19. Bc4 Bb7 [diagram] 20. Nxc7 {+- 18.89} 1-0

Position after 19…Bb7
 

DarthMusashi (1811) – Rob (1756)
Playchess.com, Game 5 min.   5/18/08

{A00: Irregular Openings} 1. Nc3 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 d5 4. e3 fxe3 5. Bd3 c5 6. b3 Nc6 7. O-O Nf6 8. dxe3 Bg4 9. Qe1 Bd6 10. e4 dxe4 ({better is} 10... O-O {and Black has air to breath} 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Bxf3 13. Rxf3 Re8 =/+) 11. Nxe4 +/- O-O?  ({better is} 11... Nxe4 12. Qxe4+ Be6 +/=) 12. Nxf6+ +- Qxf6 13. Ng5 Qxa1??  {causes even greater problems} ({better is} 13... Bf5 14. Bxf5 g6 +/-) 14. Bxh7+ -+ Kh8 15. Qh4 Qd4+ 16. Kh1 Bh5 17. Qxh5 {3:45-21sec} (17. Qxh5 Qg4 18. Qxg4 Ne5 19. Qh5 Ng4 20. Bd3+ Nh6 21. Bb2 Be5 22. Bxe5 f6 23. Qg6 fxe5 24. Qh7#) 1-0
 

Accepted Line 3…d5 4.d4

 1.Nc3 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5 4.d4

Jack Young  - John Curdo
Boston Globe, 1990

{A02: Bird's Opening} 1. f4 e5 2. Nc3 exf4 3. Nf3 d5 {White has a cramped position. White's pieces can't move: c1+f1} 4. d4 {White has a new backward pawn: e2. White has a cramped position. White's piece can't move:f1} Nf6 5. Bxf4 Bb4 {Black has an active position} 6. Qd3 Ne4 7. Nd2 Nxd2 8. Qxd2 O-O 9. e3 Bf5 10. Bd3 Bxd3 11. cxd3 c5 12. a3 {White threatens to win material: a3xb4} Ba5 13. dxc5 d4 14. exd4 Re8+ 15. Kd1 {White loses the right to castle} Nc6 {Black threatens to win material: Nc6xd4} 16. Be3 Nxd4 17. Bxd4 Qxd4 18. b4 Bc7 19. g3 (19. Kc2 Be5 =/+) 19... a5 ({better is} 19... b6!? 20. Kc2 bxc5 -+) 20. Kc2 -/+ axb4 21. axb4 Qxb4 {White king safety dropped} (21... Be5 22. Rhe1 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 -/+) 22. Ne4 (22. d4 Ra3 23. Rhb1 =) 22... Qd4 23. Qc3 Qd5 24. Qb3 Qh5 25. Qxb7??  {leads to further unpleasantness} ({better is} 25. Rxa8 Rxa8 26. Qxb7 Qe2+ 27. Nd2 =/+) 25... Qe2+ -+ 26. Nd2 Ba5 27. Rhd1 Qe5 28. Ne4 (28. Rxa5 {is still a small chance} Rxa5 29. Nc4 Ra2+ 30. Kb3 -+) 28... Rab8 29. d4 (29. Qxb8 {desperation} Rxb8 30. Rab1 Rxb1 31. Kxb1 -+) 29... Qe6 (29... Qe6 30. Ra4 Rxb7 31. d5 Qf5 32. g4 Qf3 33. Rd3 Qe2+ 34. Nd2 Rb1 35. Rc3 Bxc3 36. Rd4 Bxd4 37. g5 Rb2+ 38. Kc1 Qe1#) (29... Rxb7? {looks very tantalising, but} 30. dxe5 Rb5 31. Rdb1 Rxb1 32. Kxb1 (32. Rxb1?! Bc7 +-) 32... Rb8+ 33. Kc2 +-) 0-1
 

Schlenker – W. Strobel
Tuebingen Off Hand, 1991

{A02: Bird's Opening} 1. f4 e5 2. Nc3 exf4 3. Nf3 d5 4. d4 {White has a new backward pawn: e2. White has a cramped position. White's piece can't move: f1} Bd6 5. Nxd5 g5 6. e4 c6 {Black threatens to win material: c6xd5} 7. Nc3 Bg4 (7... g4!? {is worth looking at} 8. e5 Bb4 =) 8. e5 Bf8 (8... Bb4 +/-) 9. d5 ({better is} 9. h4 +-  {a pity that White didn't try this}) 9... Bg7 10. Bc4 (10. h4!? Bxe5 11. hxg5 +/-) 10... Bxe5 (10... Nd7 11. e6 Nb6 12. Be2 fxe6 13. dxc6 Bxc3+ 14. bxc3 Qxd1+ 15. Bxd1 +/=) 11. O-O cxd5?? (11... Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Ne7 13. g3 =) 12. Nxd5??  {Sacrifices material. White loses the upper hand} ({better is} 12. Qe1 {the advantage is on the side of White} Nc6 13. Nxe5 Qb6+ 14. Kh1 +-) 12... Nd7 (12... Nc6 13. Re1 Qd6 -/+) 13. Re1 {White pins: Re1xe5} Ne7 14. Rxe5 ({better is} 14. Bb5 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 +/= ({worse is} 15. gxf3 Nc6 -/+)) 14...Nxe5??  {not a good decision, because now the opponent is right back in the game} (14... Bxf3 15. Qd4 Nxe5 16. Qxe5 Bxd5 17. Bb5+ Bc6 18. Bxc6+ bxc6 19. Qxh8+ Kd7 -/+) 15. Nf6+ +- Kf8 16. Qxd8+ Rxd8 17. Nxe5 Rd1+ 18. Kf2 Be6 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. h4 ({better is} 20. b3 +-) 20... gxh4?? ({better is} 20... Ng6 {is the best chance} 21. Nxg6+ hxg6 +/=) 21. Bxf4 +- Rxa1 (21... Nd5 {a last effort to resist the inevitable} 22. Rxd1 Nxf6 23. Rd8+ Kg7 24. Bh6+ Kxh6 25. Rxh8 Kg5 +-) 22. Bh6# 1-0
 

Accepted Kings Gambit Line

Kings Gambit Line
1.Nc3 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5

This Kings Gambit Line can prove to be very dangerous for White if the g5 pawn is allowed to be pushed to g4.  The White Kingside could be compromised.

Kings Gambit Line
Analysis by Nakamura & Deep Junior 10  8/15/08

1. Nc3 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h3 {This is forced, the only problem is that White has a very weak square at g3 which could be occupied by a N on g3} d5 (4... Nf6 5. Nxg5 Nh5 6. Nf3 Be7 7. d4 d5 8. e4 fxe3 9. Bxe3 Ng3 10. Rg1 Nc6 =) (4... b5 5. Nxb5 Nf6 6. e3 c6 7. Nc3 Nh5 8. Ne2 Bd6 9. d4 O-O 10. e4 Ba6 11. c4 Bxc4 12. e5 Bxe2 13. Bxe2 Ng3 14. Kf2 Bc7 15. Bd3 Nxh1+ 16. Qxh1 d6 17. Bd2 dxe5 18. Qb1 h5 19. Bc3 Bb6 20. Bh7+ Kh8 21. Qf5 exd4 22. Bb4 g4 23. Qxh5 Kg7 24. Bd3 g3+ 25. Kg1 +- 8.43) 5. e3 Be6 6. d4 Bh6 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. exf4 gxf4 9. O-O = *
 

In the following game White allows Black to push the g5 pawn to g4 and this disrupts the White Kingside development.

Lutz Schaefer – N. Natali
Baden-Baden Open, 1991

{A00: Irregular Openings} 1. Nc3 e5 2. f4 ({better is} 2. d4!?  = {is an interesting alternative}) 2... exf4 =/+ 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 (4. e3!? {should be considered} g4 5. Nd4 Qh4+ 6. Ke2 -/+) 4... g4 -/+ (9... d5 10. e3 f3 11. e4 =) 5. Ne5 d6 6. Nd3 Be7 7. Nf2 Bxh4 8. d4 Bg3 9. Qd3 Ne710. Rh5 Nbc6 11. e3 Nb4 12. Qb5+ Nec6 13. Qa4?? ({better is} 13. d5 {is a viable option} a6 14. Qe2 =/+) 13... Bd7 (13... Qf6 {keeps an even firmer grip} 14. Bb5 f3 15. Bd2 -+) 14. Qb3? (14. Bb5 Qf6 15. d5 Bxf2+ 16. Ke2 -+) 14... Qe7 15. Ne2 (15. Kd1 {a last effort to resist the inevitable} Bxf2 16. a3 -+) 15... fxe3 16. Bxe3 Nxc2+ !  {Demolition of pawn structure} 17. Kd2 (17. Qxc2 {Theme: Deflection from e3} Qxe3 {Eliminates the defender e3}) 17... Nxa1 (17... Qxe3+ ?! 18. Qxe3+ Nxe3 19. Kxe3 Bxf2+ 20. Kxf2 -+) (17... Nxe3 18. Nxg3 Nxf1+ 19. Rxf1 -+) 18. Qc3 Bxf2 19. Bxf2 O-O-O 20. d5 Ne5 21. Bxa7 Qf6 22. Bb6 (22. Rh1 {cannot change what is in store for ?} Qg5+ 23. Be3 Qf5 -+) 22... c6 (better is 22... Nc4+ !{  and Black can celebrate victory} 23. Qxc4 Qxb2+ 24. Kd1 Qb1+ 25. Nc1 Qxb6 26. Qf4 -+) 23. Rxe5 (23. b3 {cannot undo what has already been done} c5 24. Qa5 Nc6 25. dxc6 Bxc6 26. Bxd8 Rxd8 -+ (26... Qxd8?! 27. Qc3 -/+)) 23... Qxe5 ({Weaker is} 23... dxe5 24. Qa3 Bf5 25. Qa8+ Kd7 26. Qxb7+ Ke8 27. Bxd8 Qxd8 28. Qxc6+ Ke7 29. Ng3 Qa5+ 30. Kd1 Bc2+ 31. Ke2 -+) (23... Qxf1 24. Qa5 Be6 25. Qa8+ Kd7 26. Qxb7+ Ke8 27. Bxd8 Nb3+ 28. axb3 Kxd8 29. dxe6 Ke8 30. Qd7+ Kf8 31. e7+ Kg7 32. Qxg4+ Kh6 33. Rh5#) 24. Qa3 Qxd5+ 25. Nd4 Be6 26. Qa8+ Kd7 27. Qxb7+ Ke8 28. Bd3 Rc8 (28... Qxg2+!?  {makes it even easier for Black} 29. Ne2 Qd5 30. Nd4 Qg5+ 31. Ke2 -+) 29. Nxe6 Qxe6 30. Ba6 h5 31. Qxc8+ (31. Bd4 {the only chance to get some  counterplay} Rd8 32. Qxc6+ Kf8 33. Qc3 -+) 31... Qxc8 32. Bxc8 Ke7 33. Bf5 c5 34. a4 (34. b4 {there is nothing else anyway} cxb4 35. Bd4 -+) 34... Ra8 35. a5 Nb3+ 36. Kc3 Nxa5 37. b4 cxb4+ 38. Kxb4 Nc6+ 39. Kc4 (39. Kb5 {doesn't get the bull off the ice} Ne5 40. Be3 Kf6 -+) 39... Ne5+ 40. Kd5 (40. Kb5 {does not save the day} Ra2 41. Be4 Rb2+ 42. Ka6 Nd7 -+ ) 40... Ra2 41. g3 (41. Be3 {is not the saving move} Rxg2 42. Ke4 Re2 -+) 41... Rd2+ 42. Ke4 Nc4 43. Ba7 Rd1 (43... d5+ {seems even better} 44. Kf4 Kf6 45. Bxg4 hxg4 46. Kxg4 Ne5+ 47. Kh3 -+) 44. Bh7 (44. Kf4 {a fruitless try to alter the course of the game} Rf1+ 45. Kg5 f6+ 46. Kxh5 Rxf5+ 47. Kxg4 Ra5 -+) 44... Kf6 45. Bd4+ Rxd4+ ({better is} 45... Kg5 {and Black has it in the bag} 46. Be3+ Nxe3 47. Kxe3 -+) 46. Kxd4 Nd2 47. Bd3 (47. Ke3 {does not improve anything} Nf3 48. Be4 Ng5 -+) 47... Kg5 48. Kd5 (48. Ke3 {is the last straw} Nf3 49. Be2 -+) 48... f5 49. Kxd6 (49. Bb5 -+  {no good, but what else?}) 49... f4 (49... f4 50. gxf4+ Kxf4 -+) ({better is} 49... Ne4+ {and Black has triumphed} 50. Ke5 Nxg3 -+) 0-1
 

Colorado Gambit - Muzio Line

Colorado Gambit – Muzio Line 1.Nc3 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.e4 g4 5.Bc4

Kings Gambit – Muzio Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.0-0

Is it possible that a Kings Gambit Muzio type of line exists in the Colorado Gambit?  If you look at the two diagrams directly above you see a Colorado Gambit – Muzio Line as compared to a Kings Gambit – Muzio Gambit position.  Notice that the two positions are very similar.  In the Kings Gambit Muzio Line the N at f3 is sacrificed for an attack and the same holds true for the Colorado Gambit – Muzio Line.  A Muzio type of line does also exists in the Colorado Gambit.  See analysis and test game below.

Colorado Gambit - Muzio Line Analysis
Nakamura & Deep Junior 10  8/15/08

1. Nc3 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. e4 g4 5. Bc4 gxf3 6. Qxf3 Nc6 7. Bxf7+ Kxf7 8. Qh5+ {=} Ke7 (8... Kf6 9. Qf5+ Kg7 10. Qg4+ Kf7 11. Qh5+ {= repetition of position, it is drawn}) 9. Nd5+ Kd6 10. d4 {Strangely this position reminds me of the Jerome Gambit} Bh6 {+/- 4.05  Deep Junior 10} 11. Bxf4+ Bxf4 12. Nxf4 Nxd4 13. Qd5+ Ke7 14. O-O Nf6 15. Qxd4 {+- 7.70 Deep Junior 10} *
 

Clyde Nakamura (2100) – Firefly 2.2.2 (2330)
Honolulu     Blitz 20min.    8/15/08

1. Nc3 e5 2. f4 {Colorado Gambit} exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. e4 g4 5. Bc4 {a Muzio type of gambit where White sacs the N at f3} gxf3 6. Qxf3 Bd6 7. O-O Nc6 8. Bxf7+ Kxf7 9. Qh5+ Kg7 10. d4 {Accelerating White's development. Soon all of White's pieces will be activated and the f file will be open.} Qf6 (10... Nh6 11. e5 Qe8 12. Qh3 Bxe5 13. dxe5 d6 14. e6 Bxe6 15. Qf3 Qg6 16. Bxf4 a6 17. Bxh6+ Kxh6 18. Rae1 Rae8 19. Ne4 Bg4 20. Qe3+ Kg7 21. Qc3+ Re5 {-+ 1.27} ) 11. e5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Bxe5 13. Nd5 {attacking both the Black Q and the f pawn} Bd4+ 14. Kh1 Qg6 15. Qf3 Nf6 16. Nxf4 Qg4 17. Qd3 {White cannot afford to trade Queens because the endgame will be lost.} c5 18. h3 {making an escape square for the White K.} Qh4 [diagram]

Accepted Line - The Tumbleweed Variation

Colorado-Tumbleweed Line 1.Nc3 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Kf2

Kings Gambit-Tumbleweed Line 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Kf2

The Colorado Gambit with moves 1.Nc3 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Kf2 is like the Tumbleweed Line in the Kings Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Kf2).  Compare the 2 diagrams above.  White will face check with 3…Qh4+ 4.g3 fxg3+ 5.Kg2 gxh2 6.Rxh2.  But I do not believe this White Line of the Colorado is sound because White drops a lot of pawns and the White King is vulnerable to an attack.  It is okay to play in blitz games or fun games but I would not consider playing this line in a tournament game.

P. Rietra – F. Verhees
EVS, 16 okt, r.7, 1980

19.Rxg3!  {Eliminates the defender g3} Bxg3 20.Bxh8 (20.Ne2 !? Bd6 21.Rf1 Ba3 +-) 20...Rxh8 21.Rf1 Re8 22.Rxf7 Rxe4 (22...d5 {does not win a prize} 23.exd5 Re1 24.Kg2 +-) 23.Bg2 (23.Bg2 d5 24.Bxe4 dxe4 25.Rxh7 +-) 1-0
 

P. Rietra – P. Berben
EVS, 1981

{A00: Irregular Openings} 1. Nc3 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Kf2 Bc5+ 4. d4 {White threatens to win material: d4xc5} Qh4+ 5. g3 fxg3+ 6. Kg2 Qxd4 7. Qxd4 Bxd4 8. hxg3 (better is 8. Nd5!? Bb6 9. Nf3 -/+) 8... Bxc3 -+ 9. bxc3 b6 10. Rh5 d6 11. c4 (11. Nf3 Nf6 12. Rh4 Nbd7 -+) 11... Bb7+ 12. Kh3 Nd7 13. Bb2 Ngf6 14. Rg5 Rg8 15. e3 (15. Nf3 {hardly improves anything} h6 16. Rb5 Nc5 -+) 15... O-O-O 16. a4 a5 17. Bc3 (17. Ne2 -+) 17... Ne4 18. Rxg7 Nxc3 19. Rxf7 Ne4 20. Rxh7 (20. Kh2 {the last chance for counterplay} Ne5 21. Rf4 Nxg3 22. Bh3+ Kb8 23. Re1 -+) 20... Rxg3+ (20... Ng5+ {seems even better} 21. Kh2 Nxh7 22. Ne2 -+) 21. Kh2 Ne5 (21... Ne5 22. Bh3+ Kb8 -+) 0-1
 

Transpose into a Kings Gambit Cunningham Defense Line
 

Kings Gambit – Cunningham Defense 1.e4 e5 2.f4 (Kings Gambit) Be7

Glaurung 2.0.1 – Colossus 2007d
Blitz Game 5 min.      5/21/08

{A00: Irregular Openings} 1. Nc3 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 Be7 4. h4 (4. e4!? =  {might be a viable alternative}) 4... Nf6 -/+ 5. e4 fxe3 6. Bd3 exd2+ 7. Bxd2 d5 8. Bg5 Nc6 9. a3 (9. Qd2 h6 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 -/+ (10... gxf6?! 11. O-O-O =)) 9... O-O 10. Qd2 Bg4 11. O-O-O Be6 12. Rhe1 Kh8 13. Kb1 Re8 14. Bb5 a6 15. Ba4 Rc8 (15... b5 16. Bb3 b4 17. Nxd5 Nxd5 18. Bxd5 Qxd5 19. Qxd5 Bxd5 20. Rxd5 -/+) 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Ne5 Ng8 (17... Bxa3 18. bxa3 Qd6 19. Qc1 -/+ ) 18. Nxc6 Bxg5 19. hxg5 (19. Nxd8??  {White will regret his greed} Bxd2 20. Rxe6 Rexd8 (20... Rcxd8?! 21. Rxe8 Rxe8 22. Rxd2 -/+) 21. Rxa6 Bxc3 22. bxc3 Nf6 -+) (19. Qxg5 {is the weaker alternative} Qxg5 20. hxg5 Bg4 =/+) 19... Qd6 20. Ne5 Ne7 21. Qf2 Kg8 22. Nc4 Qd8 23. Qc5 Rb8 24. Ne5 Qc8 (24... Qd6 25. Qxd6 cxd6 26. Nf3 =/+) 25. g4 c6 {Prevents intrusion on b5} 26. Re3 Qc7 27. Rde1 Rb7 28. b3 Qc8 29. Ne2 Ng6 30. Nd4 Nf4 31. Rf1 (31. Qxc6? Qxc6 32. Nexc6 Ng2 -+) 31... Ng2 32. Rc3 Rc7 (32... Nh4!? +/-) 33. Ndxc6 +- Qb7 (33... Bxg4 34. Qxd5 Bf5 35. Qxg2 g6 +-) 34. Qf2 d4 35. Qxd4 Nh4 36. Rd1 Qa8? (better is 36... Ng6 37. Nxg6 fxg6 +-) 37. Qd6 Rb7 38. Rh1 Ng6 39. Rch3 Nf8 40. Qd3 (40. g6 fxg6 41. Rf1 Bf7 42. Nxf7 Rxf7 43. Rxf7 Kxf7 44. Qd5+ Ne6 45. Qf3+ Nf4 46. Qxf4+ Kg8 47. Qc4+ Kh8 +-) 40... g6 41. Qf3 a5 42. Kc1 Qa6 43. Kb1?? {hands over the advantage to the opponent} (43. Rd1 a4 44. b4 Rc7 +-) 43... Qa8 44. Rd1 Qa6 45. Rh2 Qb6 46. Rhd2 Rc8 47. Rd6 Qc5 48. a4 Rbc7 49. R1d4 Rb8 50. Rd2 Ra8 (50... Re8 51. Rd8 Rxd8 52. Rxd8 Qg1+ 53. Kb2 +-) 51. R6d3 ({better is} 51. Ne7+ !  {and White can already relax} Rxe7 52. Qxa8 Qxe5 +-) 51... Rac8 52. Rc3 Qa3 53. Qf6 Rb7 54. Rd8 (54. Nxa5 {is clearly weaker} Rxc3 55. Nxg6 hxg6 56. Qxc3 Rd7 -/+) 54... Rxd8 55. Nxd8 Bxb3 56. cxb3 (56. Nxb7? {is very tempting, but} Ba2+ 57. Ka1 Qxc3+ 58. Kxa2 Qxc2+ 59. Ka3 Qc1+ 60. Ka2 Qd2+ 61. Kb1 Qb4+ 62. Kc2 Qxb7 -+) ({Inferior is}  56. Rxb3 Rxb3+ 57. cxb3 Qxb3+ 58. Kc1 Nd7 59. Qxf7+ Qxf7 60. Ndxf7 Nb6 +-) 56... Rxb3+ 57. Rxb3 Qxb3+ 58. Kc1 Qc3+ (58... Nd7 {cannot change destiny} 59. Qxf7+ (59. Nxd7?! Qc4+ 60. Kd2 Qd5+ 61. Ke3 Qxd7 +-) 59... Qxf7 60. Ndxf7 +-) 59. Kd1 Qb3+ 60. Kd2 Qb2+ 61. Ke3 Qb3+ 62. Ke4 Qxa4+ 63. Kd5 Qb3+ 64. Kc6 a4 65. Ndxf7 Qe6+ 66. Kb5 Qb3+ (66... Qxf6 {is one last hope} 67. gxf6 h5 68. Kxa4 hxg4 69. Nh6+ Kh7 70. Nhxg4 Kg8 +-) 67. Ka5 Qd5+ 68. Kxa4 Qd4+ 69. Kb3 Qd1+ (69... Qd5+ 70. Kc3 Qa5+ 71. Kd4 Qa1+ 72. Kd5 Qa5+ 73. Kd6 Qa3+ 74. Kc7 Qa7+ 75. Kd8 Qb8+ 76. Ke7 Qc7+ 77. Ke8 Qb8+ 78. Nd8 Qb5+ 79. Nec6 Qe2+ 80. Ne7+ Qxe7+ 81. Kxe7 Nd7 82. Kxd7 h6 83. gxh6 g5 84.  Qg7#) 70. Kc4 Qc2+ (70... Qa4+ 71. Kd5 Qa5+ 72. Kd6 Qa3+ 73. Kc7 Qa7+ 74. Kd8 Qb8+ 75. Ke7 Qc7+ 76. Ke8 Qc8+ 77. Nd8 Ne6 78. Qxe6+ Qxe6+ 79. Nxe6 h6 80. gxh6 g5 81. Nxg5 Kh8 82. h7 Kg7 83. Nef7 Kg6 84. Kf8 Kf6 85. h8=Q+ Kg6 86. Qg7#) 71. Kd5 Qa2+ 72. Kd6 Qa3+ (72... Qe6+ 73. Qxe6 Nxe6 74. Kxe6 +-) 73. Kc7 Qa5+ 74. Kb7 Qb5+ 75. Kc8 {43s-32s} (75. Kc8 Qc5+ 76. Nc6 Qxc6+ 77. Qxc6 Kxf7 78. Qf6+ Ke8 79. Kc7 Nd7 80. Qd8+ Kf7 81. Kxd7 Kg7 82. Qe7+ Kg8 83. Ke8 h6 84. gxh6 g5 85. Qg7#) 1-0
 

True Nature of the Colorado Gambit
 

Froms Gambit 1.f4 e5

Colorado Gambit 1.Nc3 e5 2.f4

I had always wondered about the true nature of the Colorado Gambit.  I now believe it is a declined version of the Froms Gambit (1.f4 e5) where White had declined the Froms Gambit by playing Nc3.  This means that you can play the Colorado Gambit by first playing 1.f4 e5 (Froms Gambit) and then play 2.Nc3 which becomes a Colorado Gambit.  See the two diagrams above which shows the starting positions of both the Froms Gambit and the Colorado Gambit.  In fact you could have a better chance of playing the Colorado by first playing into the Froms Gambit.
 

DECLINED LINES

Transpose into Vienna Game

1.Nc3 e5 2.f4 d6 3.e4  This is a transposition into a Vienna Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nc3).

Darth Musashi(1869)-SickIndividual(2065)
Playchess.com   Game 3min. 8/22/06

1. Nc3 e5 2. f4 d6 {my opponent declines the gambit pawn at f4} 3. e4 {the game now transposes into a Vienna Game} Nf6 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bc4 (5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Bd7 7. Bb5 Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Bxb5 9. Nxb5 Qd7 10. Nc3 Be7 11. Be3 Qg4 12. O-O O-O 13. Qb4 b6 14. Qc4 Rac8 15. Qa4 a5 16. Qc6 Rfe8 17. Rad1 Qd7 18. Qxd7 Nxd7 19. e5 Nf8 20. Nd5 dxe5 21. fxe5 Ng6 22. Rf5 Bf8 23. Bd4 b5 24. Re1 a4 25. c3 {=/+ 0.50}) 5... Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. d3 Na5 {Black wanted to remove the B at c4. I am not sure what this does, whether there is some kind of advantage somewhere on the board.} 8. Bb3 Nxb3 9. axb3 {playing 9.cxb3 would create 3 pawn islands as opposed to 2, which would not be good for the endgame.} exf4 10. Bxf4 Bg4 11. h3 {I wanted to remove the pin on f3} Bh5 12. Qe1 Nd7 13. g4 Bg6 14. Nd4 {the N is headed for the strong post at f5.} Ne5 15. Nf5 c6 16. d4 {increasing my space advantage on the board} Nd7 17. Bg3 Nf6 18. Qf2 Re8 19.Rae1 Qb6 20. Nxe7+ Rxe7 21. Bh4 Nxe4? [diagram]

Transpose into a Soller Gambit

1.Nc3 e5 2.f4 d5 3.fxe5 f6 Soller Gambit:  1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 f6

Schlenker – W. Strobel
Tuebingen, 1991