It seems like a flight of fantasy to suggest that White can conjure-up a meaningful gambit based on the unassuming first move of 1.d3, but he can, and it can be a feroucious game winning venture.
The gambit is played on White's second move, and in keeping with gambit play White gives up a pawn for an accelerated development of his minor pieces.
White not only steals a march on the second player in development, but lurking in the wings is a relatively simple, but cunning tactical ploy in which White can win the Black queen for an investment of his light-squared bishop and rook.
White is not always able to employ his queen winning device, which works best at quick time controls. A tactically aware Black may thwart our desires.
In this case White retains his lead in development and has more than just the one string to his bow.
White has optins of quickly developing his queenside pieces and castling long, and typically we have a firece encounter that sees opposite side castling.
Yet this line is flexible and White can do equally well with the less risky option of castling on the kingside.
This is a versatile gambit that can also be played against the Scandinavian Defence, but in this case White opens with 1.e4 instead of 1.d3. This is explained in the text.
A further method of arriving at our gambit is via the Van Geet opening that commences with the move 1.Nc3. This line is also explored.
White's first move of 1.d3 is a subtle means of drawing our opponent out and luling him into a false sense of security. Black boldly takes the central ground, most often with 1...d5, and White counters with 2.e4, and if Black takes the pawn then we play 3.Nc3, and the scene is set.
Black most often accepts the gambit and White profits by capturing on d3 with his light-squared bishop, thus obtaining a clear lead in development.
White's opening move (1.d3) will leave Black mistified and will throw him out of any home preperation; and not only is he in an arena with virtually zero theory, but he will find himself facing a severe lag in development.
Unlike the second player we will be firmly rooted in theory, and have Black at the tip of our sword.
Herin lies the opportunity to enter into a largely unkown gambit that has all the typical cut and thrust that such lines include.
White remains ahead in devlopment and has great chances to secure the full point from an often confused and struggling Black.
