Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. d4/2...exd4/3. c3
| Danish Gambit | |
|---|---|
|
a b c d e f g h 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 a b c d e f g h | |
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) | |
| Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 | |
| ECO code: C21 | |
| Parent: Centre game → | |
| Responses: | |
3. c3 · Danish gambit
[edit | edit source]This is an aggressive gambit which, if accepted, leads to a tactical game. Before retaking the pawn, White allows Black to take a second one first. White hopes to use the tempi to get their pieces developed, while Black busy capturing pawns.
After 3...dxc3, accepting the gambit, White has two choices. After 4. Nxc3, Black is up a pawn, but in exchange White has a piece developed and is the only one with a pawn in the centre. More common is 4. Bc4, giving Black the chance to win another pawn: 4...cxb2 5. Bxb2, White is down two pawns but in compensation has two pieces developed and centre control.
While engines find that Black has a slightly edge in the Danish gambit accepted, the lines are nevertheless dangerous to face because of White's piece activity. Therefore it is more common for Black to decline the gambit at this stage, with 3...d5, the Sörensen defence. In lieu of giving White piece activity, Black allows White to recover the pawn, 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. cxd4,
3...Qe7 is an uncommon but sound sideline, where Black stays up one pawn without giving White so much of a development lead.
This covers the main moves. Black has a few other moves to give back the pawn, but these are atypical:
3...Nc6 is the most common way to decline the gambit at the amateur level. 4. Nf3 transposes to the Göring gambit more commonly seen in the Scotch game move order, which may still be declined with ...d5. Otherwise, 4. cxd4 d5 5. e5, White regains the material and has more space.
3...d3!? to decline the gambit is inferior, as it allows 4. Bxd3, where White both recovers the material and develops a piece.
3...Ne7 is called the Svenonius defence.
History
[edit | edit source]The gambit is named for Martin Severin From (1828―1895), a Danish chess master who played it extensively including at a major tournament in Paris in 1867.[1]
Theory table
[edit | edit source]1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danish Gambit Accepted | c3 dxc3 |
Bc4 cxb2 |
Bxb2 Nf6 | e5
d5 | exf6
Bb4+ | Bc3
Bxc3+ | Nxc3
dxc4 | ∞ |
| Sörensen Defence | ... d5 |
exd5 Qxd5 |
cxd4 Nc6 | Nf3
Bb4+ | Nc3
Bg4 | Be2
Bxf3 | Bxf3
Qc4 | = |
| Ponziani | ... Nf6 |
e5 Nd5 |
cxd4 d6 | Nf3
Nc6 | Bb5
Be7 | Nc3
Nxc3 | bxc3
a6 | = |
| Alternate Declination | ... d6 |
cxd4 d5 |
e5 c5 | Nf3
Nc6 | Bb5
cxd4 | Nxd4
Bb4+ | Nc3
Ne7 | = |
| Advance Variation | ... d3 |
Bxd3 Nc6 |
Nf3 Bc5 | b4
Bb6 | a4
a6 | O-O
d6 | Nbd2
Nf6 | += |
| Qe7 Variation | ... Qe7 |
cxd4 Qxe4+ |
Be3
Bb4+ | Nc3
Nf6 | Nf3
Ng4 | Qd2
Nxe3 | fxe3
Qe7 | ∞ |
| Svenonius Defence | ... | = |
References
[edit | edit source]See also
[edit | edit source] | Wikipedia has related information at Danish Gambit. |
King's gambit
Accepted
Declined
Vienna
- Barnes ?
- Borg ?
- Corn stalk ??
- Duras ??
- 1...b5 ??
Zukertort