Falkbeer Countergambit, Milner-Barry Variation

The Milner-Barry Variation is White's development-first answer to the Falkbeer Countergambit. Instead of releasing the central tension with 3. exd5, White supports e4 with 3. Nc3 and keeps both the e4- and f4-pawns in place. The drawback is that Black remains free to resolve the tension on d5, e5 and f4 on favorable terms. Opening references mark the move as dubious, and the engine gives Black a clear advantage, although practical results on Lichess are almost evenly split.

By far the most common reply is 3...Nf6, which transposes to the main line of the Vienna Gambit, the position usually reached by 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5. The engine prefers more direct choices. 3...exf4 takes the gambit pawn while White's center is still under pressure. 3...d4 gains space and drives the knight from c3. 3...dxe4 removes the e4-pawn at once, and of the main replies it has scored slightly best for Black.