Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e6/2. d4/2...d5/3. Nc3/3...c5

Black gambits the c-pawn in an attack on White's centre.

While ...c5 is a common motif in the French defence, it is better for Black to wait until after White has played e5, as in this order White can play 4. exd5! exd5 5. dxc5 Bxc5 6. Qxd5±. Black is down a pawn for no compensation. If 5...d4!?, the knight can escape to 6. Ne4 and defend the pawn on c5.

4. Nf3, as in Levitsky v Marshall (below), is also good. It prepares to take back with the knight after 4...cxd4.

4. dxc5?! is less optimal because of the reply 4...d4!. 5. Nb5 Nc6 (necessary so that 6. Bf4 can be answered with 6...e5!) 6. Nf3 e5 7. c3 a6, and the best line is 8. Nbxd4 exd4 9. cxd4⩲. White has three pawns and a centre for the knight.

Some of Marshall's most sparkling moves look at first like typographical errors.
―William Ewart Napier on Levitsky v Marshall, 1912.^[1]

Frank Marshall played this gambit against Stepan Levitsky in 1912 in the famous "gold coins game".^[2] The game concluded with an extraordinary queen "sacrifice".

After 23...Qg3!! (diagram), Black threatens ...Qxh2#. The queen may be captured three ways, however they all lose:

• 24. hxg3 Ne2#
• 24. fxg3 Ne2+ 25. Kh1 Rxf1#
• 24. Qxg3 Ne2+ 25. Kh1 Nxg3+, Black recovers the queen and has a crushing endgame. 16. Kg1 is forced as the h-pawn is now pinned and 16. fxg3?? Rxf1#.

Any attempt to make space for the king also fails.

• 24. f3 Ne2+ 25. Kh1 Qxh2#
• 24. Re1 (or any rook move) Qxh2+ 25. Kf1 Qh1#

White resigns, and according to legend, spectators shower Black in gold coins.