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

White captures Black's undefended e-pawn.

Black's plan to justify the gambit is 3...Qh4. This threatens mate on f2 and looks to recover the e pawn. White can counter both threats with 4. Qe2, but the most critical line is actually 4. d4! Qxe4 5. Be3, giving up the pawn but achieving a crushing lead in development (5...Nf6 6. Nd2 Qf5 7. Bd3 Qe6 8. Nxf7 Qxf7 9. dxc5).

Black's alternative third move is 3...Nc6, the Chiodini gambit, which transposes into a Stafford gambit after 4. Nxc6 dxc6.

The wild sacrifice 3...Bxf2+?! achieves nothing. 3...d6 is probably the most sound continuation, but Black has to make peace with having given up a pawn in exchange for a slightly improved Philidor.

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

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Bc5 3. Nxe5

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