Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...Nc6/2. d4/2...d5/3. Nc3

= Nimzowitsch Defence = Black now faces a strong gambit that if accepted allows white to gain time by attacking the queen's knight. There are several options for black:
 * /3... dxe4/ accepts the gambit. White should play d5 to attack the knight.
 * /3... e6/ transposes into an inferior variation of the French Defence with the knight blocking the c-pawn.
 * /3... a6/ an interesting way to decline the gambit as it ignores the attack on d5.

Theory table
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'1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3'