Facing an opening · White, 1.d4

How to beat the Englund Gambit

1.d4 e5

The Englund Gambit, 1.d4 e5, gives a pawn for one famous trap. Take the pawn, develop with Nf3 and Bf4, and answer ...Qb4+ with Bd2 and Nc3.

Learn the first lineSee the full course
Lines to play
3
Trap
1
Quiz positions
6

Learn the Englund Gambit move by move

You play White. Each move is explained before you play it, with an arrow on the board; then you play the line from memory. When the course has more than one good move, every one of them counts.

Key ideas

Take and hold the pawn

2.dxe5 wins a pawn. Nf3 and Bf4 defend it; Black’s tries to win it back cost time.

...Qb4+ is the key moment

After 3...Qe7 4.Bf4 Qb4+ 5.Bd2 Qxb2, the right move is 6.Nc3. 6.Bc3?? walks into mate.

Develop, don’t chase

Black’s queen will be out early. Bring pieces out with tempo instead of hunting it with pawns.

Return material if needed

Giving back a pawn to finish development is fine. The extra pawn matters less than a safe king.

The main lines

  1. 3...Qe7 4.Bf4 Qb4+

    1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7 4.Bf4 Qb4+ 5.Bd2 Qxb2 6.Nc3 Nb4 7.Nd4 c5 8.Rb1 Qa3

    White blocks with Bd2 and answers ...Qxb2 with Nc3.

  2. 3...Qe7 4.Nc3

    1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7 4.Nc3 Nxe5 5.e4 c6 6.Nxe5 Qxe5

    Nc3 first avoids the check; e4 and Nxe5 follow.

  3. 3...d6

    1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bg5 f6 5.exf6 Nxf6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.e3 O-O 8.Be2

    Black gives a second pawn for development; White trades and castles.

  4. 2...Bc5

    1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bf4 Ne7 5.e3 Nbc6 6.exd6 cxd6 7.c3 O-O 8.Be2

    Black develops first; Bf4 and e3 keep a sound extra pawn.

This line comes from the other courses: step through it with the comments.

3...Qe7 4.Nc3

Nc3 first avoids the check; e4 and Nxe5 follow.

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Step through the line with the arrows.

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A trap to know

Short tactical shots that come out of these moves. More in the chess traps collection.

The Englund trap

White defends b2 the wrong way and the queen mates on c1.

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Step through the line with the arrows.

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Find the move

6 positions from the main lines, each with its idea. Your first try counts.

Position 1 of 6

1.d4 e5

The ideaTake the pawn.

Find the move for White.

Common mistakes

6.Bc3?? after ...Qxb2

It loses to 6...Bb4 7.Qd2 Bxc3 8.Qxc3 Qc1#. 6.Nc3 keeps everything defended.

Defending e5 at any cost

If holding the pawn means awkward moves, give it back and develop.

Forgetting the b2 pawn

...Qb4+ followed by ...Qxb2 is Black’s main idea. Know your answer before playing Bf4.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Englund Gambit good?

No. Correct play leaves White a pawn up with a good position. It is popular in fast games because of its trap.

What is the Englund Gambit trap?

After 1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7 4.Bf4 Qb4+ 5.Bd2 Qxb2 6.Bc3?? Bb4 7.Qd2 Bxc3 8.Qxc3 Qc1#.

Does the London System handle the Englund?

Yes. The London course has a chapter on it: take the pawn, develop with Nf3 and Bf4, and meet ...Qxb2 with Nc3.

Learn every line of the Englund Gambit

The Big Ben London teaches it as a repertoire: 90 lines, a note on every move read aloud, and spaced review so the moves stay with you. The first line is free.

Open the course

Also covered in The Launchpad 1.d4, The Fortress 1.d4.

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