Göring Gambit

The idea

After 4.c3, White offers the d4 pawn and, after 4...dxc3, the c3 pawn too. The main line is 5.Nxc3 Bb4 6.Bc4 d6 7.O-O Bxc3 8.bxc3: White is a pawn down but has the bishop pair and fast development.

Plans for White

Use the open lines: Qb3, e5 and Ba3 put pressure on f7 and the center, and the rooks come quickly to the open files. White plays for the initiative. Black's king is the target, so keep the pieces aimed at f7 and the e-file.

Plans for Black

Black can accept and defend carefully, or decline with 4...d5 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.cxd4 Bg4 7.Be2, returning to a normal position. After accepting, develop with ...Nf6 and ...O-O and keep f7 covered.

Watch out for

For Black, the Sea-Cadet Mate. After 5.Nxc3 d6 6.Bc4 Bg4 7.O-O Ne5?, White plays 8.Nxe5!, giving up the queen: 8...Bxd1 9.Bxf7+ Ke7 10.Nd5 is checkmate.

For White, running out of steam. If the attack doesn't land, Black's extra pawn will tell.