Reversed Albin Countergambit

Instead of defending the extra pawn on e4 with ...Nf6, Black answers 3. Nc3 with 3...c5 and attacks the d4-pawn at once. The resulting structure mirrors an accepted Albin Countergambit with colors reversed, and White has the useful extra move Nc3. The line is uncommon and is sometimes considered dubious, but it is playable, and the engine rates the position as roughly balanced. Online results are almost even.

The usual reply, chosen in nearly half of games, is 4. d5, which gains space and steps away from the c-pawn's attack. Black then normally plays 4...Nf6, and White chooses among 5. Nge2, 5. Bg5, 5. Bf4 and 5. f3, the last transposing to the Brombacher Countergambit. The careless 4...e6 allows a reversed Lasker Trap: 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. dxe6 Bxb5 7. exf7+ Ke7 8. fxg8=N+ Ke8 9. Qh5+ gives White a decisive attack, because 8...Rxg8 runs into the skewer 9. Bg5+. The alternative 4. Nxe4 cxd4 5. Nf3 Nc6 leaves White's compensation for the pawn uncertain, and White scores worse with it than with 4. d5.