Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Bc4/2...Nf6

2... Nf6
Black develops the king's knight and in doing so threatens the e4-pawn and makes it possible to play d5. This move also preempts Scholar's Mate by preventing 3. Qh5, and blocking the queen's path in the 3. Qf3 version of the mate.

White's options:
 * /3. d3/ is the most common continuation.
 * /3. d4/ can go either to Ponziani-Urusov Gambit or to the Two Knights Defence by transposition.
 * /3. Nc3/ transposes to the Vienna Game (Falkbeer Defence), with an opportunity to use a center fork trick.
 * /3. Nf3/ transposes to Petrov's Defence.
 * /3. f3/ should not be played

Theory table
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'''1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6'''