Portuguese Gambit

The Portuguese Gambit, also called the Portuguese Variation, departs from the Modern Scandinavian with 3...Bg4. Instead of retaking on d5, Black develops the bishop with a gain of tempo on the queen. White can usually keep the extra pawn, while Black plays for a lead in development and active pieces. The main test is 4. f3, which blocks the threat to d1 and hits the bishop. After 4...Bf5 White props up d5 with 5. c4, the Banker Variation, or with 5. Bb5+ Nbd7 6. c4, the Jadoul Variation. The most demanding try is 5. g4 Bg6 6. c4, the Correspondence Refutation, which leaves Black's knight with few good squares. Simpler options give the pawn back. With 4. Nf3, the Classical Variation, White allows 4...Nxd5, and 4. Be2, the Wuss Variation, leads to equality after 4...Bxe2 5. Nxe2 Qxd5 6. O-O. The zwischenzug 4. Bb5+ is usually met by 4...Nbd7.

John Donaldson gave the line its name in 1996 in recognition of Portuguese players who analyzed it, although the Belgian IM Michel Jadoul played it earlier. Engines give White a slight edge, but Black scores well in online games.