Chigorin Variation, Shaviliuk Gambit

The Shaviliuk Gambit is Black's 2...e5 against the Chigorin Variation, 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3. Because the knight on c3 blocks the c-pawn, White has no c2-c4 to pressure d5, and Black uses that time to challenge d4 with a second central pawn at once. The pawn on e5 is unprotected, so the move is a genuine offer of material in exchange for development and open lines. Reference sources call the resulting play unclear. It is an occasional sideline rather than a main reply to 2. Nc3.

Accepting with 3. dxe5 is the most common choice by a wide margin. It is also the engines' first choice and the line in which White scores best, and engines give White a slight edge in the starting position. White can also decline. 3. e4 counterattacks d5 and opens the center for both sides, while 3. Nf3 develops a piece and attacks e5 again. Draws are rare in online play, and on Lichess White's results are only moderately better than Black's, which suggests the gambit is uncomfortable to face in practice.