Rosentreter Gambit

The Rosentreter Gambit, also known as the Italian Gambit, meets the Giuoco Piano with an immediate 4. d4 rather than preparing the advance with c3. White surrenders the d-pawn to open lines and gain a lead in development, accepting that the gambit is theoretically suspect. The engine regards the position as roughly balanced, and White scores slightly better than Black in online games.

Black has three captures. 4...exd4, chosen in the large majority of games, transposes to the Haxo Gambit, a branch of the Scotch Gambit normally reached by 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5. 4...Nxd4 is playable, but White can respond with 5. Nxe5, renewing the pressure on f7, or with 5. b4, hitting the c5-bishop; Black needs precise knowledge to hold, though a well-prepared defender finds the move effective. 4...Bxd4 is generally considered the strongest and quietest reply, usually continuing 5. Nxd4 Nxd4 6. Be3 Nc6, with Black's knight retreating after the exchanges. It is also the capture in which Black scores best in online play.