Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Bc5

Black ignores the attack on their e-pawn to go on the offensive immediately. This gambit is considered unsound.

After White accepts the gambit with 3. Nxe5, Black continues 3...Qh4 threatening mate. Black hopes to keep White on the back foot long enough to recover the pawn and get ahead in development. However, Black cannot get sufficient compensation so long as White keeps their head.

Transposition into a Stafford gambit is also possible, after 3...Nc6 4. Nxc6 dxc6.

A club-level continuation is declining the gambit with 3. Bc4, but this fails to capitalise on Black's play and gives them time to defend their e pawn with 3...Nc6 (transposing into an Giuoco piano) or 3...d6.

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Bc5

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