Once... Twice... Three times an F-pawn!
One of BLack's candidate moves is 3... exd3, which would be thricely moving the same pawn in the opening. But it's actually one of the best moves here.

Once... Twice... Three times an F-pawn!

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Today the good chess fans on Twitter voted White to play 3. d3, which offers Black the opportunity to keep the extra pawn. Let's give a quick pro/con breakdown of each of the candidate moves. 

3... exd3

  • PRO: be up a pawn with lots of options on the next turn; better endgame prospects. 
  • CON: the same unit has made the first three moves; inferior development for Black. 

3... d5

  • PRO: a good way to maintain a pawn on e4.
  • CON: queen trade likely, which may not be in Black's best interests. 

3... Nf6

  • PRO: defends e4 with a piece, supports d7-d5, and closer to castling.
  • CON: the knight will likely have to move again in the coming moves. 

3... e6

  • PRO: reinforces d7-d5 advance, activates the Queen, and doesn't further open the center.
  • CON: Black may be left with a backward e-pawn, allows White to have a pawn duo.