Jalalabad Variation

The Jalalabad Variation combines ...c5 with ...e5, which leaves the e5-pawn undefended and invites 3. Nxe5. The same position can also arise from 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 c5. Black gets little for the pawn. The engine rates the position as clearly better for White, and White scores well in online games. After 3. Nxe5 Nc6 4. Nxc6 dxc6, the structure resembles the Stafford Gambit, but Black has played ...c5 instead of ...Nf6, so there is no pressure on e4. The alternative 3...Qe7 hopes for 4. Nf3 Qxe4+ 5. Be2. White can instead keep the extra pawn with 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 Nc6 6. Nxc6 dxc6. In practice the most frequent reply is 3. Bc4, ignoring the pawn, ahead of 3. Nxe5 and 3. Nc3.

Sam Sloan devised the line while held for six weeks in a prison in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. He used it at a Marshall Chess Club tournament in 1978, defeating Jans Pamiljens with 3...Qe7 in a game later printed in Chess Life. The variation had a minor revival as an online gambit in 2020.