Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Schulz Gambit

The Schulz Gambit arises when Black answers 2. cxd5 with 2...Nf6 and does not recapture with the queen. The idea is to avoid the tempo loss that follows 2...Qxd5 3. Nc3. The knight develops first and eyes d5, so that the pawn can later be won back with a piece rather than the queen. Until that happens Black is a pawn down. White's c-pawn has gone to d5, leaving White with two pawns on the d-file and a half-open c-file. The basic question for White is whether to hold on to the extra pawn or to give it back for development.

By far the most common reply is 3. Nc3, which defends d5 directly. 3. Nf3 is a quieter developing move that leaves the pawn unsupported. 3. e4 is less frequent and stakes out the center at once. In the Lichess games it gives White the best results of the three main continuations. The engine gives White a slight edge in the starting position of the line, and White scores somewhat better than Black overall. Like the parent line, it is an offbeat choice seen mainly in online and club play.