Better late than never - the Tennison gambit

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This story from chess history, while unconfirmed, centers on Otto Tennison, a 19th-century Danish player known for always opening with 1. e4. Frustrated by his opponents' complex variations, he decided to adopt a different strategy. The next time he played as White, he impulsively opened with 1. Nf3. However, when his opponent responded with 1... d5, he hesitated, contemplating his choice. Suddenly, he decisively pushed his king pawn to e4, exclaiming, “Better late than never!” This led to the creation of the Tennison Gambit, an opening largely overlooked by the chess community. The initial moves 1. Nf3 d5 2. e4 (or occasionally 1. e4 d5 2. Nf3) lead to unfamiliar positions for many players. As a surprise weapon, it effectively draws opponents into theoretical uncertainty from the outset. Uwe Bekemann, a National Correspondence Chess Master, has authored and co-authored several opening books, shedding light on this unique gambit.