Clam Variation, King's Gambit Reversed

The Clam Variation, King's Gambit Reversed, arises after 1. e4 e5 2. d3 f5. White's second move, also known as the Leonardis Variation, supports e4 and opens the c1-bishop's diagonal, but it blocks the f1-bishop and gives up much of White's first-move advantage. Black uses the slow start to strike at e4 with the f-pawn, as in a King's Gambit with colors reversed. Black is effectively a tempo behind White in the true King's Gambit, and 2. d3 has already protected e4. The early ...f5 also loosens the e8-h5 diagonal and the kingside.

The most common reply is 3. exf5, taking the pawn. 3. Nc3 adds pressure to e4 and f5 and keeps the tension. 3. Nf3 develops and attacks e5. The engine also rates 3. Qf3 highly, putting the queen on the f-file against the f5-pawn. Engine analysis gives White a slight edge. In online play the results are close to even and draws are rare. After 3. Nf3, Black has scored somewhat better than White.