Elephant Gambit · C40
Wasp Variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nxe5 dxe4 4. Bc4 Qg5
An early pawn trade leaves the d-file as Black's avenue and the e-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file.
The first 4 moves, explained
- 1. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen.
- 1... e5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d4, and frees the bishop and queen.
- 2. Nf3 Develops the knight to f3, eyeing d4 and e5.
- 2... d5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e4, and frees the bishop and queen. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Elephant Gambit. Fair warning: engines rate this gambit as objectively dubious; it is a practical weapon, not a promise of equality.
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Where this fits
This line is one of 4 in the Elephant Gambit. If you want to know where your own games leave it, the guide on leaving theory explains how that is found.