Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...d5/2. Nf3

Tennison gambit Scandinavian defence Zukertort opening → 1...d5 A06 2. Nf3 · Tennison gambit White sacrifices their e-pawn in the hopes of a potential lead in development. The Tennison gambit may arise out of the Scandinavian defence or Zukertort opening. 2...dxe4, accepting the gambit, is usual and most critical. This attacks White's knight, so 3. Ng5, counter-attacking the e-pawn and pressuring f7 is the main move. White can leverage this pressure into a lead in development before recovering the pawn, or lay a number of traps for Black, especially if they get too invested in holding onto the extra pawn. Black is typically advised to accept the gambit then give the pawn back with 3...e5. To decline the gambit, 2...Nc6 3. exd4 Qxd4 keeps things in Scandinavian territory or Black has several transpositions to choose from: 2...e5? transposes into the dubious Elephant gambit. 2...e6 transposes into a French defence, e.g. 3. exd5 exd5 4. d4 is an Exchange French. 2...c6 transposes into a Caro-Kann, e.g. the Two knights attack with 3. Nc3, or an Exchange Caro-Kann after 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 Nc6. Declining with 2...Nf6 allows 3. e5 Nfd7 4. d4, and White has an easier game with central space. Pushing the pawn 2...d4?!, hoping to cramp White's position, loses a pawn against best play. One line is 3. c3 c5 4. cxd4 cxd4 5. Qa4+! Nc6 6. b4 and b5 is coming, and the knight can't keep defence of the d-pawn. 6...Nf6 7. b5 Qa5 8. Qxa5 Nxa5 9. Nxd4++. Theory table Tennison gambit accepted 0 2...dxe4 3. Ng5 Nf6!? 4. Bc4 e6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. Ngxe4 Nxe4 7. Nxe4 - 2. ... ... 3. ... ... 4. Nc3 Bf5 5. Qe2 Qd4?? 6. Qb5+ Bd7 7. Qxb7 Bc6?! 8. Bb5 Qb6?? 9. Qc8# Brigg's trap 1-0 2. ... ... 3. ... ... 4. ... ... 5. ... ... 6. ... ... 7. ... ... 8. ... Qd7 9. Bxc6 Qxc6?? 10. Qc8# 1-0 2. ... ... 3. ... ... 4. d3?! exd3 5. Bxd3 h6?? 6. Nxf7 Kxf7 7. Bg6+ Kxg6 8. Qxd8 +++ Intercontinental Ballistic Missile gambit 2. ... ... 3...e5 4. Nxe4 f5 5. Ng3 Be6 6. Bb5+ c6 7. Ba4 Nf6 8. O-O Qa5 9. Nc3 -- (pawn return line) 2. ... ... 3. ... ... 4. ... ... 5. d4! fxe4?! 6. Qh5+ Kd7□ 7. Qf5+ Ke8 8. Qh5+ Kd7 9. Qf5+ Ke8 10. Qh5+ ½-½ 2. ... ... 3. ... ... 4. ... ... 5. ... ... 6. ... g6?? 7. Qxe5+ Qe7 8. Qxh8 +++ 2. ... ... 3. ... ... 4. ... ... 5. ... ... 6. ... Ke7?? 7. Bg5+ Nf6 8. dxe5 Qd4!? 9. exf6+ gxf6 10. Nc3! fxg5 11. Qxg5+ Ke8? 12. Rd1 +++ 2...e5? Elephant gambit(by transposition) 2...c6 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 Nc6 Exchange Caro-Kann(by transposition) 2. ... ... 3. Nc3 Two Knights attack(by transposition) 2...e6 3. exd5 exd5 4. d4 Exchange French(by transposition) References See also Tennison Gambit