From here a bit of a queens pawn game arises with white's dark squared bishop used to pin and remove the knight (as you must take with the e pawn or lose via Qh5#). I understand this isn't as good as the main lines, but why isn't it at least playable? I've used it in a few blitz games and I usually do pretty good.

2 moves played - Black has given up a pawn with no compensation whatsoever, and has its kingside under pressure because of the e8-h5 diagonal weakness.Looks like there are good reasons to call this opening dubious:)

This gambit really is only to be used for blitz games.

Well, the knight has been devolped and d6 or d5 poses a quick threat on the pawn that must be awkwardly defended. I agree it's for blitz, but one weakness (the h5-e8 file) that can be defended doesn't take it to completely dubious levels.

Let me put it this way - you see your opponent hanging two pieces, a knight and a queen, would you consider taking the knight because it's playable?  I mean, it really is playable, you get a free knight!  Of course you wouldn't.

The same situation applies here.  Sure you can win with the duras gambit, but at the end of the day the other 19 moves on the board are better (if you didn't catch that, IMO, the duras gambit is the WORST move on the board).  Again, it's "playable" (at least at your level) but why the **** would you want to shoot yourself in the foot?

You lose a pawn, your king is exposed, I mean come on!  I wouldn't play this opening in lightning chess.

3. Be2 =)

3. Be2 basically wins for White.

Dubious opening for Black.