Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Bc5/3. Nxe5/3...Qh4

Busch-Gass gambit C40 Busch-Gass gambit 3...Qh4 3...Qh4 threatens mate on f2 and looks to recover the e pawn. Black is perhaps hoping for 4. g3??, which prevents mate but allows 4...Qxe4 5. Qe2 Qxh1 -+, or 4. Nf3??, which blunders 4...Qxf2#. White can counter both the threat to f2 and e4 with 4. Qe2!?. Black then hopes to develop faster and easier than White (White's queen is in the way of their bishop, for example) and that this will provide them with sufficient compensation for the lost pawn, but it is not borne out. A continuation might be 4...Nf6 (attacking e4) 5. Nc3 O-O 6. g3 Qh5 7. Qxh5 Nxh5 8. Bg2. The most critical line is actually 4. d4! Qxe4 5. Be3. White gives back the pawn but achieves a crushing lead in development instead (5...Nf6 6. Nd2 Qf5 7. Bd3 Qe6 8. Nxf7 Qxf7 9. dxc5). Theory table 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Bc5 3. Nxe5 Qh4 4. d4 Qxe4+ 5. Be3 Nf6 6. Nd2 Qf5 7. Bd3 Qe6 8. Nxf7 Qxf7 9. dxc5 left 1 Refutation: position after 4. d4 Qxe4+ 5. Be3 Nf6 6. Nd2 Qf5 7. Bd3 Qe6 8. Nxf7 Qxf7 9. dxc5. 0 Busch-Gass gambit 4. Qe2!? Nf6 5. Nc3 O-O 6. g3 Qh5 7. Qxh5 Nxh5 8. Bg2 +- Trap 4. g3?? Qxe4+ 5. Qe2 Qxh1 -+ Refutation 4. d4 Qxe4+ 5. Be3 Nf6 6. Nd2 Qf5 7. Bd3 Qe6 8. Nxf7 Qxf7 9. dxc5 +- References