Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...e5

Englund 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) rnbqkbnr/pppp1ppp/8/4p3/3P4/8/PPP1PPPP/RNBQKBNR
	Moves: 1. d4 e5
	ECO code: A40
	Parent: Queen's pawn opening

1...e5?! · Englund gambit

Black offers their e-pawn. The Englund gambit is considered unsound: against best play, Black will not get enough compensation for the pawn. It is therefore rare in tournament chess, but it is not uncommon in amateur games where Black wants an open, tactical game with sharp traps and practical chances.

2. dxe5 to accept the gambit capitalises on Black's dubious move. White challenges Black to find compensation. The main line continues with 2...Nc6 3. Nf3 Qe7 4. Bf4, and Black invites White to blunder with the manoeuvre ...Qb4+ &...Qxb2, but if White plays carefully this is toothless. 2...d6, letting the pawn go in return for an open centre and development, is the main side line.

Declining the gambit gives an even game. White can allow Black to take on d4―2. e3!? exd4 (the reversed French), 2. c4?! exd4, etc.―and open the position, or push the pawn 2. d5!? to keep the position closed.

2. Nf3!?, the reversed Alekhine, allows 2...e5 to kick the knight. 2. e4 transposes into the centre game (1. e4 e5 2. d4).

Theory table

1. d4 e5

	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Englund gambit accepted	dxe5! Nc6	Nf3 Qe7	Bf4 Qb4+	Bd2 Qxb2	Nc3 Bb4	Rb1 Qa3	Nd5 Ba5	Rb5 Bxd2+	Qxd2 Kd8	±
(trap)	... ...	... ...	... ...	... ...	Bc3?? Bb4	Bxb4 Nxb4	Na3 Qxa3			-+
Hartlaub gambit	... d6	exd6 Bxd6								±
Derek Wu trap	... Bc5?!	Nf3 d6	exd6 Ne7?!	dxe7?? Bxf2+	Kxf2 Qxd1					-+
Reversed Alehkine	Nf3?! e4	Nfd2 d5								⩱
Englund gambit declined	d5? Nf6									=
Exchange French (by transposition)	e3? exd4	exd4 d5
Centre game (by transposition)	e4?

References

Wikipedia has related information at Englund Gambit.

Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999.John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.
Modern Chess Openings: MCO-14. 1999. Nick de Firmian, Walter Korn. ISBN 0-8129-3084-3.
Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.