Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. d4/2...exd4/3. Bf4

3. Bf4?! — Boyard Gambit 3. Bf4?! develops the bishop to f4 instead of immediately recapturing the pawn, offering the Boyard Gambit. (Its a custom opening) ====== Responses: 3...d5 strengthens Black's center and supports further development. 3...Nc6 develops a knight and defends the d4 pawn. Downsides: White voluntarily delays recovering the d4-pawn, allowing Black to consolidate the extra material and develop with an advantage if White cannot generate enough activity. An independent line is 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Bf4?! Nc6. The Boyard Gambit is characterized by 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Bf4?!. (unknown origin - not officially named yet) An independent line is 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Bf4?! Nc6 4. Nf3 Bb4+ 5. Nbd2 Nf6 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O where White has rapid development and active pieces but Black has successfully retained the extra pawn. Why it is dubious: The Boyard Gambit is considered dubious because White gives Black a clear material advantage without an immediate tactical justification. White hopes that the lead in development and active pieces will provide enough compensation for the pawn, but Black can often consolidate the extra material with accurate play. The central problem with 3.Bf4?! is that White's compensation is uncertain. In the normal development of the position, White would usually prefer to recover the d4-pawn or use the tempo to create an immediate tactical threat. Bf4 does neither directly. The Boyard Gambit is an offbeat and dubious gambit characterized by 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Bf4?!, where White sacrifices the immediate recovery of the d4-pawn in exchange for development and attacking chances.