Chess Openings Lab
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Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit

The Tennison Gambit is 1.e4 d5 2.Nf3, where White leaves the e4 pawn hanging. White hopes for quick play with Ng5 if Black takes, while Black should grab the pawn and develop.

Moves
1.e4 d5 2.Nf3
ECO
A06
Engine
−0.90 · a clear edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
17,680 games in our lichess sample
White scores
49.7%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After 2...dxe4 play 3.Ng5 and Nc3 to win back the e4 pawn.
  • Against 2...e6, push 3.e5 for a French-style space edge with c3 and d3.
  • Against 2...c6, trade with exd5 and play d4 and c4 for Panov-style play.

Black

  • Take with 2...dxe4, the top engine move, and defend with ...Bf5 and ...Nf6.
  • After 3.Ng5, the bishop on f5 holds e4 and Black stays a pawn up.
  • 2...e6 and ...c5 reach French-style play if you prefer to avoid the gambit.

Plans and pawn structure

This is a dubious gambit: Black takes the pawn and keeps it with ...Bf5 and ...Nf6. White tries to win back the pawn with Ng5, Nc3 and d3, but Black's development is fast. If Black plays the quieter ...e6 or ...c6, the game turns into French or Caro-Kann structures with level chances. White should avoid falling behind in development. In the gambit line, White's queen steps to d2 when ...Bg4 hits it, and Black castles and keeps the pawn.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.90: a clear edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.90 2...dxe4 3.Ng5 Bf5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.d3
  2. +0.19 2...e6 3.e5 c5 4.c3 d4 5.d3
  3. +0.23 2...c6 3.exd5 cxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.c4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

17,680 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 49.7%.

under 120048.0%
1200–159949.1%
1600–199951.5%
2000 and up49.5%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Tennison Gambit, Brigg's Trap2...dxe4 · rare

How to play against it

As Black, take with 2...dxe4 and defend with ...Bf5 and ...Nf6. Don't play loose moves that leave f7 or e4 weak. Watch for Brigg's Trap ideas after 3.Ng5, where White's knight eyes f7 and e4 together. Develop calmly and the extra pawn should count later.

Questions

What are the moves of the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit?

The Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit starts 1.e4 d5 2.Nf3. Its ECO code is A06.

Is the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.90 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for Black. In 17,680 lichess games from our sample, White scored 49.7%. A dubious gambit for White; Black players should take the pawn and develop with care.

What is the main idea of the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit?

White offers the e4 pawn for quick play with Ng5. Black takes the pawn, defends with ...Bf5 and ...Nf6, and stays a pawn ahead.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is dxe4, with e6 and c6 close behind. 2...dxe4 wins a pawn, and after 3.Ng5 Black holds it with ...Bf5.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.