Scotch Gambit, Göring Gambit Declined

Against the Göring Gambit, 4. c3, Black turns down the extra pawn and strikes at e4 with 4...d5, opening lines before White can develop with Nxc3 and Bc4. It is regarded as one of Black's most dependable paths to equality. The engine rates the position level, and Black scores slightly better online. The main reply, 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. cxd4, leaves White with an isolated d-pawn against a centralized black queen. After 6...Bg4 7. Be2 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 Qc4, the Capablanca Variation, named for Black's play in Marshall–Capablanca, Lake Hopatcong 1926, White must trade queens, as in 10. Qb3 Qxb3 11. axb3 Nge7, or surrender castling rights with 10. Be3. The resulting endgames are equal, and this deters many from the gambit.

If Black avoids that ending, for instance with 6...Nf6, White's active pieces offset the isolani. White can also sidestep it with 6...Bg4 7. Nc3, meeting 7...Bb4 with 8. a3, or with the rare 5. Bd3; neither promises an edge. The advance 5. e5 is the second most common choice, while 5. cxd4 scores poorly for White.