Magnus Carlsen's drive to the top began with a King's gambit game against the Chinese GM Wang Yue. But it was quite different from what the old romantic masters had in mind. Let's go back and see some analysis by the Italian master Gioacchino Greco (1600-1634). To some chess historians, Greco was the first chess professional. Others thought of him as the first chess hustler. Whatever you call him, Greco was a very talented player who made a living by teaching chess to wealthy patrons, including a few kings. In 1619 he wrote a manuscript on openings, consisting of games, probably fictitious, full of combinational fantasy and clarity. Here is Greco's take on the King's gambit.
1.e4
e5
2.f4
exf4
3.Nf3
g5
4.Bc4
g4
5.Bxf7+?!
Speedy assaults on the black King, with sacrifices like this one, flourished in Greco's time. Often not completely correct, they succeeded because they did not meet strong defense.
5...Kxf7
6.Ne5+
Ke6?!
[(Greedy. Modern theory prefers to refute White's adventurous play with 6...Ke8
7.Qxg4
Nf6
but that is not much fun.]
7.Qxg4+
Kxe5
8.Qf5+
Kd6
9.d4
Bg7
10.Bxf4+
Ke7
11.Bg5+
Bf6
12.e5
Bxg5
13.Qxg5+
Ke8
14.Qh5+
Ke7
15.0-0
Black is clearly in trouble. His emperor has no clothes.
15...Qe8
16.Qg5+
[White can shorten the outcome with 16.Qh4+
Ke6
17.d5+
Kxe5
(17...Kxd5
18.Nc3+
Ke6
(18...Kc5
19.b4+
Kb6
20.Qd4+
Ka6
21.Qc4+
Kb6
22.Na4#
) 19.Rf6+
Ke7
20.Nd5+
Kd8
21.Rf8+
Ne7
22.Qxe7#
) 18.Nc3
Kd6
19.Qb4+
c5
20.Nb5+
Kxd5
21.Rad1+
Kc6
(21...Ke5
22.Qe1#
) 22.Rd6#
]
16...Ke6
17.Rf6+
Nxf6
[17...Ke7
18.Rf4+
Ke6
19.d5+!
Kxd5
20.Nc3+
Kc5
21.Rc4+!
Kxc4
22.Qh4+
Kc5
23.b4+
Kb6
24.Qf2+
Ka6
25.Qf1+
Kb6
26.Qb5#
]
18.Qxf6+
Kd5
19.Nc3+
Kxd4
[19...Kc4
prolongs the game by a move 20.Qf1+
Kxd4
21.Qf4+
etc.]
20.Qf4+
[20.Rd1+
speed's up the end 20...Kc5
(20...Kc4
21.Qf1+
Kb4
22.Qb5#
) 21.Rd5+
Kb4
22.Qh4#
]
20...Kc5
21.b4+
Kc6
22.Qc4+
Kb6
23.Na4#
1-0