Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...d5/2. e4/2...dxe4/3. Nc3/3...c5

This rare and rather unknown countergambit adds pressure to White's d-pawn. The name of this opening is the Reversed Albin Countergambit as it resembles an accepted Albin Countergambit with colors reversed and an extra knight on c3. This is sometimes considered slightly dubious or bizarre, but it is nonetheless playable.

White may try to regain the lost e4 pawn immediately with 3. dxc5?!, but this is too greedy and gives up White's central control and the White pawn on c5 would be quite weak and attacked easily with e6 or e5 as well as the idea of 3...Qxd1+ trading queens and is thus not the best move.

3. d5 is White's best and most popular move, pushing their pawn like in the standard Albin Countergambit. 3...Nf6 is the best and most popular move, but 3...e6? may lead to Black falling for a deadly trap (see Traps section below). It steps out of Black's c5 pawn attack.

3. Nxe4 aims to trade pawns. After 3...cxd4, White will see the reason why this is not preferred over 3. d5. It diminishes White's trap potential and after 4. Nf3 Nc6, White may not be able to prove sufficient compensation for the e4 pawn.

Because this is a mirrored Albin Countergambit Accepted, White may try to do a Reversed Lasker Trap if after 3. d5, 3...e6 is played. The trap is 4. Bb5+ Bd7 5. dxe6!, and if Black decides to trade bishops with 5...Bxb5??, they will get a nasty surprise after 6. exf7+ Ke7 7. fxg8=N+!! and 7...Rxg8?! isn't possible as 8. Bg5+! would skewer the Black king and queen, so after 7...Ke8 8. Qh5+! White has a crushing attack on Black's king and will probably overwhelm Black with attacking moves.