Winawer Countergambit

The Winawer Countergambit strikes at d4 with 3...e5, using the fact that 3. Nc3 no longer keeps an eye on e5. Szymon Winawer introduced it against Frank Marshall at Monte Carlo 1901. Accepting with 4. dxe5 d4 gives play resembling the Albin Countergambit, since the advanced d-pawn chases the knight, and 5. Ne4 Qa5+ is the usual follow-up. After 6. Bd2 Qxe5 7. Ng3 the pawn returns to Black, but Nf3 will come with tempo and White ends up ahead in development. Against 6. Nd2, Black does better to play 6...Nd7 and win back e5 with a knight.

White can also exchange first with 4. cxd5 cxd5. Then 5. dxe5 d4 6. Ne4 Qa5+ 7. Nd2 Nc6 8. Nf3 Bg4 lets Black recover the material, though the price is the bishop pair. 5. e4 is regarded as perhaps White's most testing fifth move. The immediate 4. e4 is the Anti-Winawer Gambit. Quieter options are 4. Nf3, where 4...exd4 equalizes and 4...e4 leads to a reversed French, and 4. e3, best met by 4...exd4 5. exd4 Nf6. The countergambit is considered slightly better for White, and engines agree.