Elephant Gambit


The Elephant Gambit is a rarely played chess opening beginning with the moves:
Although the Elephant Gambit is considered unsound, it has been used frequently by the Barbadian master Philip Corbin.

Lines

White is able to capture either of Black's center pawns with the advantage, either by 3.exd5 or 3.Nxe5. With a center pawn removed, Black is in a passive position with White clearly having the initiative as White controls more.

3.exd5

Black's responses to 3.exd5 include 3...e4 and 3...Bd6. 3...Qxd5 saves the pawn, but leaves White with a big lead in after 4.Nc3.

3...e4

After 3...e4 4.Qe2 Nf6 lines might continue:
After 3...e4 4.Qe2, Tal–Lutikov, Tallinn 1964 continued 4...f5 5.d3 Nf6 6.dxe4 fxe4 7.Nc3 Bb4 8.Qb5+ c6 9.Qxb4 exf3 with 10.Bg5 cxd5 11.0-0-0 Nc6 with advantage for White.

Elephant Gambit proper: 3...Bd6

After 3...Bd6 4.d4 e4 5.Ne5 Nf6 6.Nc3 0-0 7.Bc4, according to de Firmian, White enjoys a distinct superiority but no immediate attack.

3.Nxe5

After 3.Nxe5: