The Walrus

The Walrus arises from the Ross Gambit, Black's dubious 1...e5 against the Zukertort Opening. After 2. Nxe5 Nc6 Black challenges the centralized knight, and once White exchanges with 3. Nxc6, the recapture 3...dxc6 points away from the center. It leaves doubled c-pawns but opens the d-file for the queen and the diagonal of the c8-bishop. Black accepts a permanent pawn deficit and a damaged queenside in return for rapid development and half-open central files, hoping to gain time against White's undeveloped kingside.

The engine rates the position as a large advantage for White, but online results are much closer, and Black scores respectably in practice. The most common reply is 4. d4, which claims the center and blunts Black's bishops. 4. g3 prepares a fianchetto and quiet development. 4. e4 is also common, though in this sample Black has scored better than White after it. The engine's preferred moves are 4. d3, 4. e4 and 4. c4, all of which put a pawn in the center while White keeps the extra material. The line is rarely seen at a serious level.