Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...d5/2. Nf3

= 2. Nf3 - Tennison Gambit =

White sacrifices a pawn in the hopes of a potential lead in development. Black will generally make the move /2...dxe4/, accepting the gambit. White typically responds with 3. Ng5, hoping for 3...Nf6, at which point they can achieve a lead in development and may play for an opening trap jokingly named the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Variant : 4. d3 exd3 5. Bxd3 h6?? 6.Nxf7 Kxf7 7. Bg6+ Kxg6 8. Qxd8, winning the queen.

Black can avoid this trap and other tricky lines by immediately returning the pawn with 3...e5 4. Nxe4 f5. After White moves the knight, Black may play 5...Be6 protecting the a2-g8 diagonal (else Bc4, preventing Black from castling, poses problems). Black achieves easy development, control of the center and an easy game.