Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. d4/2...cxd4/3. Nf3

Morphy gambit B21 Sicilian defence → 2...cxd4 3. Nf3 · Morphy gambit Rather than recapture the pawn with their queen, which would allow Black to gain tempo with ...Nc6, White prepares to recapture with their knight. This looks to transpose into a regular open Sicilian. Black may play whatever move they would have played after 2. Nf3 (3...d6, 3...Nc6 etc.) and allow the transposition. However, the way to "punish" White for the irregular move order is 3...e5, securing the pawn. 4. Nxe5?? fails to 4...Qa5+!. White's best continuation is 4. c3, the Andreaschek gambit, reaching a position similar to the Smith-Morra gambit when declined with ...e5. History This line was popular in the nineteenth century. One of its earliest appearances was von der Lasa versus Mayet, 1857.von der Lasa v. Mayet, 1857. Chessgames.com Paul Morphy played it frequently to reach open Sicilian positionsMorphy v Anderssen, 1858. Chessgames.comMorphy v Paulsen, 1857. Chessgames.com but also faced the line with 3...e5.Morphy v Journoud, 1858. Chessgames.comMorphy v Prett, 1858. Chessgames.com Theory table References See also