The Tennison Gambit is 1. 2.: you leave e4 hanging, and if your opponent grabs it with , the knight jumps to g5 with 3., hitting that pawn and f7. In 160,735 Lichess games between 900 and 1700 (September 2026), you score 49% with it. Across 1,174 games between players rated over 2200 online, the gambit scores 49.7%.
Lichess games from September 2026 (30,577,162 rated 900 to 1700) and 31,791 over-the-board games rated 2300+ from the last 12 months. Data updated: October 14, 2026.
2 named lines in this family; 1 with their own page.
The opening's share in each Lichess rating band.
After 2., 83 in 100 opponents at your level take the pawn with , and 88 in 100 strong players do. Strong players almost always follow up with 3., 98 in 100 of them. At your level it's 64 in 100, and another 25 put the knight on e5 with 3.. Against 3., the usual reply is : 42 in 100 at your level, 57 among strong players. Next comes , in 20 in 100 games, and there you score 47 in 100, against 52 versus . After , your level mostly plays 4., 47 in 100, while strong players prefer 4. (41) and 4. (35).
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 83.3% | 48.4% | 88.1% | no data | |
| 4.7% | 51.8% | no data | no data | |
| 2.7% | 51.9% | 2.6% | no data | |
| 2.4% | 54.5% | 2.5% | no data | |
| 2.2% | 49.8% | 1.1% | no data | |
| 1.7% | 52.6% | 3.7% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 0.7% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64.4% | 50.6% | 97.9% | no data | |
| 25.0% | 49.9% | 0.7% | no data | |
| 5.7% | 42.6% | 1.3% | no data | |
| 2.4% | 28.7% | no data | no data | |
| 1.3% | 35.9% | no data | no data | |
| 0.4% | 39.4% | no data | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41.7% | 52.1% | 57.3% | no data | |
| 20.4% | 47.3% | 24.6% | no data | |
| 9.7% | 50.7% | 2.7% | no data | |
| 9.5% | 53.1% | 1.2% | no data | |
| 4.2% | 47.2% | 13.5% | no data | |
| 3.3% | 50.4% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 0.7% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47.2% | 55.8% | 20.7% | no data | |
| 21.6% | 49.7% | 35.1% | no data | |
| 18.8% | 50.5% | 40.9% | no data | |
| 5.0% | 51.1% | 3.3% | no data | |
| 2.4% | 39.2% | no data | no data | |
| 2.1% | 49.3% | no data | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 84.6% | 49.1% | 100.0% | no data | |
| 6.8% | 51.9% | no data | no data | |
| 2.6% | 67.2% | no data | no data | |
| 2.4% | 50.3% | no data | no data | |
| 1.2% | 69.8% | no data | no data | |
| 1.2% | 61.1% | no data | no data |
The gambit trades the e4 pawn for time against two targets: that same pawn, which nothing defends after , and f7, guarded only by the king. The pawn your opponent just won attacks your f3 knight, and 3. moves it to a square that hits e4 and f7 at once. Your opponent has to spend the move holding the pawn: , and defend it, and also attacks your knight on g5.
The strong players' line is 4. 5. 6., and each of your moves adds an attacker. 4. adds a second attacker on f7 alongside the knight, so your opponent shuts the diagonal with ; every strong player answers that way. With f7 covered, you turn back to the pawn. 5. hits it a second time, and only the f6 knight defends it. guards it again and attacks your c4 bishop, which has no defender. 6. handles both: it protects the bishop and hits e4 a third time. That's three attackers, both knights and the queen, against two defenders, and the pawn is about to come back. This is where the levels split: after , only 34 in 100 players at your level find 5., while strong players always play it.
At your level, the most common choice after is a different idea, 4.. The pawn hits e4 a second time and opens the c1 bishop's diagonal all the way to g5, so your knight is now protected. It works for you: you score 56 in 100 with it, while strong players score 47.
If you go 4. and your opponent answers , then 5. hits e4 a third time. When they hold it with , you're in Brigg's Trap, where you score 74 in 100.
| Move | Strong games | Chosen by |
|---|---|---|
| 1,220 | 88.1% | |
| 1,072 | 97.9% | |
| 1,024 | 57.3% | |
| 584 | 40.9% | |
| 237 | 100.0% | |
| 225 | 100.0% | |
| 195 | 33.3% | |
| 64 | 100.0% |
After , 3. is a blunder: your knight runs from the pawn to a square the d8 queen sees down the open file, and nothing guards it. wins it and you're a piece down. Play 3.. Only 2 in 100 play it, and it gets punished: you score 29 in 100, against 51.
2 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 6.4 pawns of advantage. It scores 28.7%; scores 50.6%.
If your opponent plays , 3. is a mistake: after the pawn hits your f3 knight and stays in their hands. After 4. the bishop holds it, and 5. changes nothing. Play 3., which defends e4. 3 in 100 play it, and it's rarely punished: 47 in 100 against 51.
3 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.1 pawns of advantage. It scores 47.3%; scores 50.7%.
Against , 3. is a mistake: it defends e4, but kicks the knight back with 4., and covers e5. Play 3.: you win a pawn, and e5 is left undefended against your knight. 6 in 100 play it, and it's rarely punished: 49 in 100 against 52.
6 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.5 pawns of advantage. It scores 48.9%; scores 51.9%.
Against , 3. is a mistake: after your knight has to move and the pawn stays with your opponent. After 4. 5. , that knight hits d4. Play 3., taking on d5 before you lose e4. 3 in 100 play it, and at your level it's rarely punished: 48 in 100 against 50.
3 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.1 pawns of advantage. It scores 47.6%; scores 50.4%.
After , retreating with 3. is a mistake: the knight escapes the pawn, but you've spent two moves and your opponent keeps e4. After 4. they develop with an extra pawn. Play 3., hitting e4 and f7. 6 in 100 play it, and it shows: you score 43 in 100, against 51.
6 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.2 pawns of advantage. It scores 42.6%; scores 50.6%.
Against , 3. is a mistake: after 4. 5. the queens come off and your king loses the right to castle. Play 3.: you win a pawn, and nothing defends e5, which your knight attacks. 6 in 100 play it, but at your level it's rarely punished: 49 in 100 against 52.
6 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.2 pawns of advantage. It scores 48.6%; scores 51.9%.
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Not castled | Not castled | 38,463 |
| Not castled | 35,875 | |
| 34,287 | ||
| 17,368 | ||
| Not castled | 8,524 | |
| Not castled | 8,123 |
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · A06
1,131 amateur games · White's score: 73.8%