Please stop playing this!

Introduction

As a bit of an opening theory nerd, I get irrationally irritated when I see people play poor moves in positions they really should have seen hundreds of times.There is one line in particular that comes up too often to ignore — sometimes played by the same player after they've been told it's not to be recommended.

Looks good, right? White defends e4 and develops a piece. Unfortunately, chess is a concrete game, and Black equalizes with a simple idea: the center fork trick.

In the Lichess 2000+ rapid, database, the score is actually better for Black: 38-9-53%!
The main point isn't to say this position is losing or horrible for White, but it is not what you should be looking to get out of the opening with the white pieces!

Wait, what about Bxf7?

Aside from simply not being aware of ...Nxe4 as an option (you have to set the database to 2200+ for Nxe4 to become the top move!), people might be drawn to 5.Bxf7+ as a seemingly tricky option.

The alternatives

Having seen that 4.Nc3 isn't all that great, what could you play instead?

Alternative #1: 4.d3

The calm 4.d3! is probably the most challenging way to meet 3...Nf6. White often follows with c2-c3 (or sometimes a2-a4) and pushes d3-d4 when the time comes. While some moves will have to be made before fireworks show up on the board, they're usually the more impressive for it.

Alternative #2: 4.Ng5

Some very quirky positions come out of 4.Ng5. If you want to grab a pawn and defend stubbornly, this might be the line for you.

Alternative #3: Scotch Gambit

Whilte White has no objective advantage, this is still a better and honestly much more interesting continuation.

In conclusion...

• 4.Nc3?! doesn't look great after the center fork trick, 4...Nxe4. White isn't really worse, but Black equalizes easily.
• There are better alternatives, so I don't think anyone should be playing this except maybe to dodge theory in blitz against a grandmaster.
• If you want a slow, strategic game, 4.d3 is good.
• 4.Ng5 wins a pawn, but you'll have to defend a slightly uncomfortable position.
• 4.d4, the Scotch Gambit, is the better slightly tricky option.

Thanks for reading! Leave a like if you found this useful.
-Numerot