IndrekR. Taming the Tennison Gambit

Chessable, Chess Openings, Apr 10, 2019.IndrekR. — Псевдоним автора.This one is for you, #TeamScandi! The Tennison Gambit is a tricky try every Scandinavian player needs to be aware of.When you meet 1. e4 by playing the Scandinavian with 1...d5 you try to immediately bring your opponent to your world of a Caro-like game after 2. exd5, 2...Qa5/Qd6/Qd8 or one of active piece play after 2...Nf6 and the Portuguese variation.'Better late than never!'Clever White players can try to thwart your plan by declining to take and coming after you by playing the tricky Tennison Gambit with 2. Nf3?!Lt. Col. Otto Mandrup Tennison (1834-1909) was a Danish-born engineer who emigrated to the US, fought for the Union, then switched sides and fought for the Confederate forces. He participated in an armed insurrection in New Orleans and later published an article on our gambit in 1891 in which he called it the Black Rook Gambit.The story goes that Tennison was a 1. e4 player who was tired of having to face all of the opponent's prep so once he decided to open with 1. Nf3. Upon seeing the response 1...d5, he took a long time and then said to himself "Better late than never!" and went 2. e4 after all.This option is quite common at faster time controls and it's best to know our stuff here.In this quick repertoire, we'll look at two good options for Black to make sure we never get caught unawares.As a bonus, you'll also understand how White plays and could conceivably try out 1. Nf3 d5 2. e4 in Bullet or Blitz or to surprise your friends.If you like this course, make sure to check out IndrekR’s other courses:
Destroying the Dutch I
The Fiery Icelandic Gambit
Ending the Englund Gambit
Beating the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit
Blackmar-Diemer for Blitz
V for von Hennig-Schara