Spanish Countergambit

The Spanish Countergambit, also called Sawyer's Gambit, meets the Spanish bishop with 3...d5, opening the center before Black has developed. The move leaves the c6-knight pinned, so e5 loses its defender, and White may capture on either d5 or e5. Engines give White a clear advantage, and White scores well in practice. Black's counterplay is tactical. It relies mostly on ...Qg5, which forks a knight on e5 against g2 if White has not yet castled. After 4. Nxe5, the natural 4...dxe4 fails to 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Bxc6+, but 4...Qg5 sets a trap: the Harding Gambit, 5. Nxc6, runs into 5...Qxg2 6. Rf1 Qxe4+, and Black eventually regains the knight. White does better with 5. Nf3, answering 5...Qxg2 with 6. Rg1, or with the Fricke Gambit, 5. O-O.

4. exd5 is the most frequent reply. After 4...Qxd5 5. Nc3, White gains time against the queen. 4. Bxc6+ is also common. 4. c3 leads to the Ponziani Opening's Spanish Variation, a line in which Black has fared better.