Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. c3/3...Nf6/4. Bc4

White leaves their e4-pawn undefended. This unsound gambit can easily be punished by Black if they know what they're doing. It may arise from the Ponziani opening or from the Italian game by transposition.

4...Bc5!? transposes into the classical variation of the Italian Game. This is the most common move in amateur play, but fails to punish White's inaccurate move order.

4...Nxe4 accepts the gambit. After 5. O-O!? d5! (gaining tempo on the bishop) 6. Bb5 Bd6 (defending e5) White is down a pawn for no compensation. Best is 5. Bd5 (attacking the knight) Nf6 (5...f5?! 6. d4 Nf6 7. Bxc6 dxc6 8. Nxe5 = ) 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Nxe5 ⩱ recovers the material, but Black is for choice with easier development.

This gambit was first played by Jules Arnous De Riviere against Gustav Neumann in 1864.^[2] The game continued 5. O-O d4. Both names Neumann and de Riviere are used in different online databases.

The gambit arose via the Italian game move order in 2009 between Radjabov and Anand.^[3] Anand declined the gambit with 5. a6 and the game reached a position more commonly seen in the giuoco pianissimo, (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 a6).

It hasn't been seen much in serious play as 4...Nxe4 is simply better for Black.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Bc4