Ponziani Countergambit

The Ponziani Countergambit, 3...f5, answers White's slow 3. c3 by attacking e4 with the f-pawn before White can support it with d4. It also clears the way for the king's knight to develop to f6. Domenico Ponziani introduced it in 1769, and the opening's modern name comes mainly from this contribution. Boris Spassky used it against Yakov Estrin in 1951, and it appeared in a Nakamura–Becerra Rivero game at the 2007 US Championship.

White has two main replies. 4. exf5 is the most frequent on Lichess and is usually met by 4...e4 5. Nd4 Nf6, with Black gaining time against the knight. Theory tends to prefer 4. d4, striking in the center. After 4...fxe4 5. Nxe5, Black chooses among 5...Qf6, 5...Nf6 and 5...Nxe5. White is considered better after 5...Qf6 6. Ng4 Qg6 7. Bf4 or 5...Nf6 6. Bg5. The Schmidt Attack, 4. d4 d6 5. d5, instead gains space and drives the knight away. The quieter 4. d3 is also seen. The engine gives White a slight edge, yet Black scores better than White in online games, where the resulting tactics are hard to handle without preparation.