Fyfe Gambit

The Fyfe Gambit is White's most direct reply to the Max Lange Defense. Instead of preparing f4 or developing with 3. Bc4, White strikes in the center at once with 3. d4. Black's knight already covers d4, so after 3...exd4 White cannot recover the pawn with the queen as in the Center Game. That is why the line is treated as a gambit, with White relying on quick development and play against the black center.

The capture 3...exd4 is the usual answer and scores well for Black. The engine rates the position as a slight edge for Black, and its preferred moves are 3...Nxd4, 3...exd4 and 3...d5. Other replies reach positions classified under the Nimzowitsch Defense: 3...d5 leads to its Scandinavian Variation complex, and 3...Nf6 to the Breyer Variation. The counterattack 3...f5 is the Philidor Countergambit. In the Lichess sample Black wins slightly more often than White and draws are rare, so the gambit is mainly a practical surprise weapon.