Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit — Bg4

After 3.exd5, Black has a loose bishop on g4 and a pawn on d5 that can be taken. The position is still sharp — both sides have development to finish — but you already have something to aim for. Your main idea is simple: take the pawn on d5 with your queen and then calmly develop, keeping the bishop on g4 as a target. Black's bishop is doing a job on g4 (pinning the knight), but it also means Black has spent two moves on a minor piece early. That slight loss of time is exactly why you have a small edge. You're fighting for a smooth, active development with an extra pawn in the centre and no weaknesses to show for it. Let Black worry about how to get that bishop to safety.

The computer's top choice is Qxd5, and it's the clear favourite in practice — played in over 87,000 games. After 3...Qxd5, you continue with Be2, threatening the bishop on g4 and starting your kingside development. The most common continuation is 4...Nc6 5.O-O, when you've castled and are ready to bring your rooks to the centre. At this point your queen is well placed on d5, you've connected your rooks, and Black still needs to figure out what to do with that bishop. The engine line shows that this simple, natural play is all you need. Don't overcomplicate it — develop, castle, and let Black's bishop problem give you a comfortable game.

The numbers from 109,714 games tell a clear story about Black's best and worst replies. Here's how each move performs for you as White: - Qxd5 (87,355 games): White scores 50.3% — the main line, and your opponent's best try. - Nf6 (9,884 games): White scores 51.1% — slightly better for you, and the computer calls it an inaccuracy. - Bxf3 (6,882 games): White scores 60.4% — a outright mistake for Black, and you punish it hard. - c6 (2,999 games): White scores 51.2% — another mistake from Black. - e6 (1,236 games): White scores 60.0% — excellent for you. - e5 (394 games): White scores 62.7% — your best outcome. The pattern is clear: when Black grabs your knight with Bxf3, or tries to break out with ...c6, you come out well ahead. Your job in the drill is to know how to handle each of these replies confidently.

If Black plays 3...Bxf3, that's a mistake costing roughly 2.0 pawns. After 3...Bxf3, you recapture 4.Qxf3 and Black has traded a well-placed bishop for a knight that hasn't moved, leaving you with the bishop pair and an extra central pawn. Your queen also gets a nice square on f3. Just develop and enjoy the two bishops. If Black plays 3...c6 (another mistake, loses about 1.0 pawns), you can meet it simply. Black is trying to kick your d5 pawn, but you don't have to defend it in a complicated way — just keep your centre solid and look to develop quickly. The move 3...Nf6 is an inaccuracy (loses about 0.7 pawns). After 3...Nf6, you can defend the d5 pawn with 4.c4 or 4.Bb5+, keeping your extra pawn while developing with tempo. In each case, Black's failure to take on d5 immediately leaves you with an advantage you can nurse into the middlegame.