At all times White has tried to escape such difficulties by bold sacrifices. Thus arose the Muzio Gambit.
1 P-K4
P-K4
2 P-KB4
PxP
3 Kt-KB3
P-KKt4
4 B-B4
P-Kt5
5 O-O
PxKt
6 QxP
Q-B3
To throw the Queen thus early into the fray is necessary in view of the multitude of threats directed against the King. The strongest piece though most vulnerable to attack is also the one that can defend and counterattack the most effectively.
7 P-K5 ...
To force the Queen out of relative safety and to open the King's file for the Rook and the square K4 for a Knight.
7 ... QxP
The KP is too strong, it must be captured.
8 P-Q3
B-R3
To mass the obstructions against the attack on KB2.
9 Kt-B3
Kt-K2
10 B-Q2
QKt-B3
White makes ready for attack on the KX, Black hurries supports.
11 QR-K1
Q-KB4
Here the Queen guards the points KB2, KB3, KB5 and is fairly safe.
(Note: 12 K-K4, apparently formidable, exposes the Rook too much. Black replies 12 ..., O-O, and thus threatens 13 ..., P-Q4 too strongly. !)
The results of painstaking analyses by many of the foremost masters are embodied in the following moves:
12 Kt-Q5
K-Q1
13 Q-K2 ...
The idea is if 13 ... KtxKt;
14 BxKt
QxB;
15 B-B3.
13 ... Q-K3
14 Q-B2
Q-Kt5
With best play Black appears to hold the advantage in the Nuzio Gambit also. In former times it was quite the fashion to play Gambits. Other Openings were then rated as dull.