When I play at “Rook’s Odds” I choose especially sharp openings to maximize my opportunities to outplay a lesser experienced opponent in tactically complex positions. In this game, I had the black pieces and chose the Rousseau Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 f5) which is a fun choice to counter the Italian Game. The Rousseau Gambit feels a bit like playing a King’s Gambit with the colors reversed and my young opponent in this game, had never seen 3… f5. In fact, the vast majority of Italian Game practitioners are not prepared to meet the Rousseau Gambit which makes it an excellent surprise weapon.
The starting point of the Rousseau Gambit.Playing the Rousseau Gambit at Rook’s Odds.
Chris Torres is a nationally renowned scholastic chess coach working in the San Francisco Bay Area. His classes have attracted players of strengths ranging from rank beginners to world champions. A chess professional since 1998, Chris is widely recognized as one of the main driving forces behind the explosion in popularity and sudden rise in quality of scholastic chess in California. Chris Torres served as the President of the Torres Chess and Music Academy from 2005-2020 and currently is recognized as a correspondence chess master with the United States Chess Federation. Since 1998 Chris Torres has taught 6 individual national champions as well as led multiple school teams to win national championship titles. In addition, Chris Torres has directed and taught at 10 different schools which have been California State Champions at chess. In 2011 and 2012, several former and current students of Chris Torres have been selected to represent the United States at the World Youth Chess Championships. Mr. Torres’ hobbies include playing classical guitar and getting his students to appear on the national top 100 chess rating lists.
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