Hornung Gambit

The Hornung Gambit, 3. Be3, is White's answer to the Scandinavian Variation of the Nimzowitsch Defense. Instead of resolving the central tension, White protects d4 with the bishop and leaves the e4 pawn hanging. Black most often takes it with 3...dxe4. The engine then slightly prefers Black, although online results in that line are close to even. Black can also decline with 3...Nf6 or 3...e6, and White scores well against both. The line is rarely seen.