Schara Gambit

The Schara Gambit, also known as the Hennig–Schara Gambit, arises when Black skips the routine 4...exd5 and plays 4...cxd4. The pawn is offered so that White's queen, recovering material on d4 and d5, becomes a target for Black's minor pieces, which develop with tempo along the open c-file and the freed diagonals. Alexander Alekhine tried it, and it still sees some master-level play, but the gambit is judged to favor White, and the engine gives White a slight edge. Black nonetheless scores well in online games. White players who prefer to avoid it can choose the 3. Nf3 move order.

The most frequent reply is 5. Qxd4, which allows 5...Nc6 with gain of time, since dxc6 would leave the queen on d4 exposed to ...Qxd4. After 6. Qd1 exd5 7. Qxd5 Be6, Black enters the Von Hennig Gambit. The engine's preferred 5. Qa4+ first forces Black to block the check. A bishop is the usual blocker, keeping c6 for the knight, before White collects the pawns and Black develops by harassing the queen. The rare 5. dxe6 has scored poorly for White.