I used to play tournament level chess. I found leaning into this to be quite effective.
I was never very good with memorising opening gambits. I excelled in the mid and late game however. If I realised (or suspected) my opponent was playing a preplanned gambit, I would make a deliberately suboptimal move or 2. I might lose some positional advantage, or even a pawn or 2. I could generally make it up, once my opponent was kicked off their rails.
I used to play tournament level chess. I found leaning into this to be quite effective.
I was never very good with memorising opening gambits. I excelled in the mid and late game however. If I realised (or suspected) my opponent was playing a preplanned gambit, I would make a deliberately suboptimal move or 2. I might lose some positional advantage, or even a pawn or 2. I could generally make it up, once my opponent was kicked off their rails.