Franco-Hiva Gambit Accepted

The French Defense: Franco-Hiva Gambit Accepted arises when White answers the irregular 2...f5, sometimes called the Kingston Defense, by capturing with 3. exf5. Black's early ...f5 tries to undermine e4 without first preparing ...d5. It also loosens the e8-h5 diagonal and the e6-square, and leaves the e5-point without pawn support. The capture is the move most players choose and the one the engine prefers. It leaves White a pawn up for the moment, with doubled f-pawns, and the engine rates the position as clearly better for White. Commentators generally regard 2...f5 as dubious.

Black recaptures with 3...exf5 in the large majority of games. This restores material and leaves an open e-file and a free c8-bishop, but Black's center is thinner than in the normal French and e5 and e6 are weak. The real gambit is 3...Nf6, which leaves the pawn on f5 and plays for quick development. It is considered doubtful in theory, yet Black has scored slightly better than White with it in online play. 3...d5 is rarely seen. Overall results on Lichess are close, with White a little ahead.