Stafford gambit noun1 •A chess opening deriving from the Petrov Defence (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6) after which black gives up its king's pawn and plays the queen's knight to the C file (3. Nxe5 Nc6), especially when followed by (4. Nxc6 dxc6). formsStafford gambits