Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...f6/3. Nxe5

3. Nxe5 is the critical move that refutes the Damiano defence. White realised that f6 couldn't defend the e5 pawn because of the weakness of Black's kingside.

If 3...fxe5? then 4. Qh5+! exploits the open e8-to-h5 diagonal. Then if 4...g6 5. Qxe5+ forks the king and Black's rook on h8. After 5...Qe7 6. Qxh8 (6. Qxe7? and White only has two pawns for the knight) Qxe4+ 7. Kd1, Black has a knight and a pawn for the rook and two pawns lost they lost. The Chess Wikibook Sample Game follows the 3...fxe5 4. Qh5+ g6 line.

4...Ke7 does not fair better: 5. Qxe5+ Kf7 6. Bc4+ d5 7. Bxd5+ Kg6 and White has three pawns for their knight, their bishop developed, and Black's king on the run.

Therefore, Black can't afford to take the knight. Instead 3...Qe7 is their best try. 4. Nf3 Qxe4 5. Be7 and Black has at least recovered the pawn, but White has a big development lead. The other goal of 3...Qe7 is to bait 4. Qh4+? from an unsuspecting White player, as here 4. Qh4+ is a mistake because after 4...g6 the queen can't take on e5. 5. Nxg6 Qxe4+ 6. Be2 Qxg6 and Black is up a knight for a pawn.

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

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6 3. Nxe5

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Wikipedia has related information at Damiano Defence

• Pandolfini, Bruce (1989). Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps. ISBN 0-671-65690-2.