This week I played black in a club competition game against an opponent that usually plays d4 / c4 setups. So all week I was excited about being able to play my favourite gambit. Only the day of the game I started to realize that my opponent would most likely decline the gambit being a cautious player. So half an hour before rushing off to my club I quickly looked up the best ways to play against white's most popular ways to decline the gambit (3. e3 and 3. d5) - and I was happy that I did, because I had to play against 3.e3.

I want to post the game since I am still surprised how active blacks play got within 10 moves. My opponent did not always make the best moves, but it was surpising to me how quickly black got a great position. Maybe this is helpful when anyone ever faces 3. e3 as well!

Other than that, I don't mind showing a game I enjoyed!

Cool, In 500 Master Games, Tartkower claimed "there is no good way to decline this gambit"

nice game, nice win : )

you were quite active during the whole game - it was worth playing like this :)

kewl, there is no good way to decline the scotch gambit either - If someone finds one - let me know :-)

Great game polleke and well played OTB

I would say White is lost by move 10, structure is awkward and he has no real activity, Black is dictating all the play.

Alright...back the truck up...

Can someone explain to me how 16.Qd3 doesn't win a piece?

Yes, no problem. The move 16...d5 would be good, supports both pieces at the same time .

oh

Very interesting. Few weeks ago, I too, met 3.e3 in OTB - and won. I´ll post it here in the next days.

Myself, I just respond to 3. e3 with ...exd4  4. exd4 Nf6 transposing into the black side of a French Exchange variation.  I'm an 1. e4 player as White and intend to take up the "Monte Carlo" Exchange variation against the French (1...e6  2. d4 d5  3. exd5 exd5  4. c4) so as to learn this line of play inside and out so to speak.