Chigorin Defense, Lazard Gambit

The Lazard Gambit arises when Black meets the restrained 3. Nf3 of the Chigorin Defense with 3...e5. Black offers the e-pawn to open the center before White has finished developing, instead of pinning the f3-knight with the main-line 3...Bg4. The ideas closely resemble those of the Albin Countergambit (1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5), but the knights already placed on f3 and c6 change the details. The c6-knight is in play from the start, and White's f3-knight is already in position to attack e5.

White has three common replies. The most frequent is 4. dxe5, which takes the pawn at once. The next is 4. cxd5, which clears the d-file tension first. 4. Nc3 continues developing while the pawns stay in contact. The engine also ranks 4. Nxe5 among its preferred moves. It assesses White's position as slightly better, and White scores better than Black in practice. Compared with other Chigorin lines the gambit is an esoteric choice, and it appears only occasionally.