Tennison Gambit Explained

Openingname:	Tennison Gambit
Moves:	1.Nf3 d5 2.e4 or 1.e4 d5 2.Nf3
Eco:	A06
Nameorigin:	Otto Mandrup Tennison
Parentopening:	Zukertort Opening
Aka:	Abonyi Gambit Black Rook's Gambit Lemberg Gambit Lviv Gambit Polish Gambit Zukertort Gambit ICBM Gambit ICBM Variation
Chessgid:	287531&move=2&moves=e4.d5&nodes=21720.287531

The Tennison Gambit is a chess opening in which White gambits a pawn.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} The opening moves begin with either the Zukertort Opening:^[5]

1. Nf3 d5
2. e4

or the Scandinavian Defense:

1. e4 d5
2. Nf3

The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings code for the Tennison Gambit is A06.

History

The first person to significantly research this opening was chess amateur Otto Mandrup Tennison (1834–1909).^{[6] [7]} Tennison was born in Denmark, studied in Germany and moved to the United States in 1854. There, he played in the chess clubs of New Orleans. Many strong players picked up the idea from the first half of the 20th century.

After 2...dxe4 3.Ng5

• White intends to tempt Black to play 3...Nf6 After 4.d3 exd3 5.Bxd3 h6, White wins with 6.Nxf7 Kxf7 7.Bg6+ Kxg6 8.Qxd8. This continuation has been referred to as the "Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Variation", coined by YouTuber Bosnian Ape Society in a video in which instead of 8.Qxd8, White launches an anti-tank missile at Black.^[8] The name "Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Variation", along with "ICBM Variation" or "ICBM Gambit", has been used by noted players such as IM Levy Rozman.^[9] After 4.Bc4 e6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Ngxe4 Nxe4 7.Nxe4 b5 8.Be2 Bb7 9.Bf3 White had the advantage in Ermenkov–Bonchev, Bulgaria 1970.
• 3...e5 4.Nxe4 f5! favors Black.^[10]
• 3...Bf5 and Black has the better position. A continuation might be 4.Nc3 Nf6 and Black keeps the advantage in a position.

Notable games

Otto M. Tennison vs., New Orleans 1891:
1. Nf3 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Ng5 f5 4. Bc4 Nh6 5. Nxh7 Rxh7 6. Qh5+ Kd7 7. Qg6 Rh8 8. Be6+ Kc6 9. Bxc8+ Qd6 10. Qe8+ Kb6 11. Qa4 If 11...Qc6 then 12.Qb3+ Ka6 13.Nc3 any 14.Bxb7+; 11...e6 12.a3, etc. (Tennison)

See also

• List of chess gambits

Further reading

• Bekemann, Uwe. (2016). Better late than never – The Tennison Gambit. Schachverlag Ullrich.
• Lutes, John. (2002). Tennison Gambit. Chess Enterprises.

Notes and References

1. [Eric Schiller|Schiller, Eric]
2. http://www.vachess.org/news/1998_2.pdf Virginia Newsletter (1998). pp. 13–15
3. https://www.365chess.com/eco/A06_Tennison_(Lemberg_Zukertort)_gambit 365.com – A06: Tennison (Lemberg, Zukertort) gambit
4. http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1009312 Tennison gambit Collection
5. http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessopening?eco=A06 Reti Opening A06
6. http://billwall.phpwebhosting.com/articles/Tennison%20Gambit.htm Wall, Bill. Tennison Gambit.
7. http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=99715 Otto M. Tennison
8. Web site: October 11, 2020 . Tennison Gambit Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Variation . YouTube.
9. Web site: December 5, 2020 . INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE GAMBIT. YouTube .
10. Book: Benjamin . Joel . Joel Benjamin . Schiller . Eric . Eric Schiller . Unorthodox Openings . . 1987 . 79 . Tennison Gambit . 0-02-016590-0.