Why do people play this terrible gambit?

I see it too often and I don't get what it does. It doesn't give them an attack, it doesn't let them get their pieces out before me, it doesn't do anything except lose quickly. I want good games, and every time I see this I check out because I know the game is going to be dull. I see it way too often. The only way I'd ever lose to it is if I got bored and fell asleep. Tired of seeing it.



Anyone who plays it want to explain what goes through your head? Why is it so popular? At least the bongcloud is funny.

I don't play it but it gives good initiative for white and when it's played properly it gives good compensation for the pawn. If your opponents play the opening badly, any opening can look objectively bad.

@Jbot43 I guess maybe I don't understand initiative, but to me it looks like it does the opposite. White starts the game up a little on initiative which is why the engine favors white slightly and this opening kills any advantage giving black the chance to do something. He could've just played knight c3 on move 2 then still gotten d5 and developed his pieces in the same number of turns without giving a free pawn. What's an example of white playing this "well" that isn't just black messing up?

Thinking about it more, this opening just looks like its for people who are afraid of 1. c5 and who are too much of cowards to deal with it. I don't respect anyone who plays this seriously.

It s a strong opening if you play it well.
I don t take on c3 because in my opinion white gets too much compensation..

Instead of 7. e5 --> Castle, Qe2, bishop out ( Bf4 or Bg5) and rook to d an d c1 ....
Believe me you will understand "initiative"

7 e5 is wrong, but it sometimes works

@Richardd If white castles on move 7 I think black can just take the e4 pawn with the knight immediately. That's probably still playable for both sides without as much initiative for white. If it was blitz I'd be scared, I just don't see dropping a game in classical to this if my opponent is the same rating as me unless I get bored. Maybe I'll get more scared of it when I get higher rated.

Start with Qe2, it was no specific order, just a game plan

If you challenge me to a game, i will show you some ideas :)

#3

"Thinking about it more, this opening just looks like its for people who are afraid of 1. c5 and who are too much of cowards to deal with it. I don't respect anyone who plays this seriously"

So cowards are now playing gambits ? Funny. Very funny...