Ross Gambit

The Ross Gambit is a little-played branch of the Center Game. After 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4, White neither recaptures with 3. Qxd4 nor offers a second pawn with 3. c3, and instead develops the bishop to d3. There it defends e4 and prepares quick kingside development, but it is a less ambitious post than c4, where the von der Lasa Gambit places the bishop to aim at f7. Black stays a pawn ahead with the d4-pawn lodged in the center, and White's compensation is considered only partial. The engine gives Black a slight edge.

The most common reply, played in about half of all games, is 3...Nc6, which protects d4 and develops a piece. 3...c5 supports the extra pawn with another pawn, and 3...d6 is a quieter option. The engine's preferred moves are 3...Bc5, which also guards the pawn, 3...d5, which challenges e4 at once, and 3...Nc6. The gambit is rare at a serious level, but on Lichess the results are close to even, with White scoring marginally better than Black.