ECO A40 · for Black
Englund Gambit
The line below is what Lichess 1600-1800 players actually play: after the opening's defining moves, each move is the most common choice at that point. The notes are Chessbook's move notes, the same ones shown while building a repertoire.
14,915,182 games in this band reached the Englund Gambit position. From there Black won 48% and drew 4%.
1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 Nc6 3. Nf3 Qe7 4. Bf4 Qb4+ 5. Bd2 Qxb2 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Rb1 Qa3 8. Rb3 Qa5 9. a3 Bxc3 10. Bxc3 Qc5 11. e3
Moves 1 to 2
1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 Nc6
1. d4
The Queen's Pawn opening is more usually more positional in nature, White intends to develop the pieces while having a share of the center.
1... e5
Breaking in in the center and immediately challenging the d4 pawn.
2. dxe5
Capturing the sacrificed pawn.
- 2. d5: Not accepting the sacrificed pawn, but advancing it instead gaining space and restricting the b8 knight.
2... Nc6
Developing the knight while intending to recapture the pawn.
- 2... d6: Allowing White to go up a pawn in order to gain a development advantage. This is not sound as Black does not have much compensation for the pawn.
- 2... Bc5: Developing the bishop and hitting the f2 pawn, most likely aiming for some attack.
Moves 3 to 4
3. Nf3 Qe7 4. Bf4 Qb4+
3. Nf3
More accurate than Bf4 (which is played in the Budapest). This is because white hasn't moved the c-pawn, so can always answer Bb4+ with c3.
3... Qe7
Attacking the e5 pawn with both the knight and the queen.
4. Bf4
Developing the bishop and protecting the hanging e5 pawn.
- 4. Nc3: White gives back the pawn and focuses on quick development.
- 4. Bg5: Developing the bishop while attacking the Black queen.
4... Qb4+
Activating the queen and checking the White king, while also forking both the f4 bishop and b2 pawn.
Moves 5 to 6
5. Bd2 Qxb2 6. Nc3 Bb4
5. Bd2
Retreating the bishop because of the check and the threat on the bishop. Black will likely capture the pawn on b2 and white will develop the knight with a development advantage.
5... Qxb2
Capturing the b2 pawn with a favorable pawn structure but a development disadvantage.
6. Nc3
Developing the knight with potential ideas of trapping the queen or quickly attacking Black's weaknesses.
6... Bb4
Moves 7 to 8
7. Rb1 Qa3 8. Rb3 Qa5
7. Rb1
7... Qa3
8. Rb3
8... Qa5
Moves 9 to 11
9. a3 Bxc3 10. Bxc3 Qc5 11. e3
9. a3
9... Bxc3
10. Bxc3
10... Qc5
11. e3
Plans for Black in this position
What Black usually does from here in Chessbook's games data. Hover a move to see it on the board.
- Black typically castles kingside
- The kingside knight often goes to g6, via e7
- The queen on c5 often moves to e7
- The kingside rook generally develops to e8
- Common pawn moves are b6 and a6
Related opening guides
- Sicilian Defense for Black
- French Defense for Black
- Scandinavian Defense for Black
- Caro-Kann Defense for Black
- Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation for Black
- Philidor Defense for Black