The click on the middle mouse button opens links in the browser automatically in a new tab. Closing the tab again is also as simple as clicking on it with this button. Many laptops simulate this feature by using a multiple finger gesture.
On the chromebook, however, you had to open the context menu (ALT + Click or two finger tap) and chose Open in new tab or you had to use the keyboard and press CTRL + Click.
After updating to ChromeOS Version 34.0.1847.134 on the Chromebook Acer C720 I noticed a new feature: the three-finger-tap simulates a middle mouse button click.
All variants for a middle-click on Chromebooks
- 3-Finger-Tap
- 3-Finger Click
- CTRL + Click/Tap
If this feature doesn't work on your chromebook, you may try enabling Allow touchpad three finger click under chrome://flags/#allow-touchpad-three-finger-click. You may also check your chromebook for new updates.
As mentioned above, I could only test this feature on the Acer C720, running the current stable version of ChromeOS. Some other guys replied on Google+, the feature also works on the Chromebook Pixel and the HP Chromebook 14, so I guess it should work on almost every devices out there.