Scandinavian Gambit, Ross Variation

I would like to get the opinions of others on the soundness of the Ross Gambit in the Scandinavian Defense.  This variation goes: 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. dxc6 e5.  It seems very strong for Black, in my opinion.  There is a webpage specifically devoted to the Gambit here:

http://faithsaves.net/scandinavian-marshall-ross-gambit/

but I have not seen it reviewed in books on the Scandinavian.  I have had some nice wins with the line as Black.  Thanks in advance for the comments!

It's reputation is quite good.  White will usually avoid this by playing 4 d4, the Panov-Botvinnik attack.

Or even better, 3.d4!

The whole system with 2...Nf6 is under a major cloud right now!  Dumb moves like 3.c4 and 4.dxc6 is just giving Black what he wants.

3 c4 is not a dumb move if used as a transpositional device to get into a panov. You should not take on c6 in the marshall gambit but if black wants ply some unsound gambit like 3...e6 then I'm just going to gobble up that pawn

As far as I'm concerned, if White has a clear cut way to a known advantage, which is what 3.d4 is now-a-days, then any move that gives Black equality is dumb!

You are corrrect that 4 dxc6 Nxc6 gives Black a good game.  The Ross variation is specifically a gambit of a second pawn with 4 ... e5 instead of 4 ... Nxc6, which, IMO, gives Black an even stronger attack than after 4 ... Nxc6, as the games in the webpage linked to above demonstrates.

You could also try the Gubinsky-Melts Variation (aka Scandinavian 3...Qd6 Variation) For the inside story join us at http://www.chess.com/groups/view/scandinavian-defense-3qd6-variation