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Are there any annotations on the obscure Mighty Thor Gambit?

[FEN ""]
1.e4 e6 2.a3 d5 3.e5 c5 4.b4

(which is different from The Wing Gambit:)

[FEN ""]
1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e5 c5 4.b4

At a tournament where it was played numerous players referred to it as "The Mighty Thor Gambit" but I've not seen that mentioned anywhere online.

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  • But it is not the wing gambit. The move order is distinct and the resulting positions quite different.
    – Ywapom
    Commented Oct 26, 2017 at 0:35
  • My book doesn't even know 2.a3 so I guess it's just worse version of the more serious 2.Nf3 followed by 4.b4. I always say about such a moves that they are over flexible, you don't know, which piece will go where, so you leave them in starting position and move with wing pawns...
    – hoacin
    Commented Oct 26, 2017 at 7:48
  • A main difference between it and the Wing gambit is that White doesn't commit the Knight to f3 and can therefore play f4.
    – Ywapom
    Commented Oct 26, 2017 at 15:15
  • 2
    What tournament was it played at? Who played it? That might provide some useful context.
    – Dennis
    Commented Oct 28, 2017 at 1:32
  • It was in a USATW so not a GM game, but I have found a few examples on chesstempo
    – Ywapom
    Commented Oct 28, 2017 at 1:47

1 Answer 1

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I am not aware of any published analysis nor commented games in this line.

Note that Black can almost forcefully transpose into a 'regular' wing gambit with 4...Nc6 5.Nf3 [5.f4, 5.bc5, and 5.Bb2 cb4 all look worse] cb4.

In case he is looking for more original play, 4...d4, 4/5...Qb6, 4/5...Qc7 all look interesting and try to demonstrate that a3 might not be the most useful move for White when Black refrains from taking on b4.

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