Hi mwmiller
It has been tried on here 12000+ times. I know an OTB league player who
has won with it 3 times over the years. There are a few happy chappies here
who play 1.a3 trying to get it in reverse, sometimes succeeding.
HI FMDavidHLevin
I think that line allowing White to open the e-file gives White the game they are after.
(and 'best play' and RHP do not always go together 😀 ) A more tricky reply is 6...Bd6.
Some players here have actually taken the d4 Knight in this position.
If 'the obvious 7.f4 then 7...Qc5. Which I had once as White (I missed Qc5)
I shut my eyes and played 8.Na3 hoping the discovered check did not too much
damage. It went 8...Ne2++ and Nxc1 and I eventually won but it needed, as always
some slack play by opponent.
White's game is easier to play than Black's.
Natural attacking moves v accurate defensive moves, not to mention the
psychological value of Black thinking they had a win in 7 moves and now
find themselves involved in tempo v material struggle.
Black should be looking for ways to give the piece back with a plus.