Scandinavian Defense, Icelandic-Palme Gambit

The Icelandic-Palme Gambit begins 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.c4 e6. A gambit is a deliberate offer of a piece or pawn in exchange for rapid play and threats. Black attacks the d5-pawn with the knight and then offers another pawn with ...e6. If White accepts with 4.dxe6, Black may reply 4...Bxe6, remove the advanced pawn, and bring the bishop out in the same move.

The sequence is written in algebraic notation: squares such as e4 combine a column letter and row number; N means knight, B bishop, R rook, and Q queen; pawn moves normally show their destination, x marks a capture, and + marks check. Moves are read in pairs, White first and Black second; dots before a move shown alone indicate Black's turn.

The sacrifice seeks compensation, advantages that balance the material given away. Here Black brings pieces out quickly, clears paths for bishops and rooks, and pressures White's center. White has an extra pawn but must avoid leaving the pieces on their starting squares while answering threats.

Accepting or declining

• After accepting, White should bring the pieces out accurately and exchange Black's most active pieces when possible, because every exchange reduces the attacking potential.
• By declining, for example by stabilizing the center with d4, White gives up the attempt to keep every possible pawn but avoids several forcing lines.

Black is not guaranteed an attack. If Black loses the initiative, the ability to make threats that force the opponent to respond, and does not recover the pawn, White's material advantage will matter more as pieces are exchanged. This gambit is a branch of the Modern Scandinavian, because it begins with 2...Nf6 and delays the recovery of the d5-pawn.