Mosquito Gambit

The Mosquito Gambit is a rare branch of the Englund Gambit. After 1. d4 e5 2. dxe5, Black skips the usual 2...Nc6 and brings the queen straight to h4. From h4 the queen bears on f2 and sweeps along the fourth rank, but it does not attack the pawn on e5, so Black stays a pawn down with no immediate way to win it back. White's doubled e-pawns are a small structural concession. Against that, the queen is out alone before any minor piece has moved, and White can harass it while developing. Engines rate the position as a large advantage for White, and on Lichess White wins the majority of games.

The most common reply by far is 3. Nf3, which develops and hits the queen at once, and it gives White the best results of the main moves. The second choice, 3. g3, also forces the queen to move but slightly loosens White's kingside; Black scores noticeably better against it. 3. Nc3, another engine recommendation, is played much less often. Theory on the line is thin, and its appeal rests mainly on surprise in fast online games.