The Elephant Gambit

Do you hate the theory of the Italian game? Are you bored of closed middlegames, with no action? Well, I have just the thing for you. It is called the elephant gambit.

The elephant gambit arises after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5.

This is an incredibly rare gambit, so it is unlikely your opponents know what to do against it. Fun fact, the elephant gambit may have gotten in its name from the power it gives to the bishops, which are called elephants in Russian.

I have managed to get incredible advantages using this gambit. You would not believe how many people *accidentally* lose their pieces or underestimate you extremely badly.

The main continuation is 3. exd5 e4 4. Qe2 Nf6 5. Nc3 Be7. While white can exchange pawns now, you are ahead in development, and I have won many games from here. 

For example, this game: 

Of course, it can go on in other ways.

That is the mainline. However, if Nxe5, there is a fun variation known as the Wasp Variation. 

To end the article, here is a summary. Study the moves shown here, but look at them with an engine, or by yourself to see what happens when your opponent plays such and such. You may be wondering. Why don't you ever see this? It is considered dubious... by the engine. The engine can beat everything these days, so its not a surprise. For most of your opponents, this will take them out of theory and can give you a winning advantage out of the opening. However, you have to be willing to play aggressively.