Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit
The Albin Countergambit is 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5, where Black offers the e-pawn to get a strong pawn on d4 after 3.dxe5 d4. White tries to keep the extra pawn and develop safely, while Black aims for fast piece play and tactics around the cramping d4 pawn.
- Moves
- 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5
- ECO
- D08
- Engine
- +0.75 · a clear edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 5,769 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 51.9%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Take with 3.dxe5 and meet 3...d4 with 4.Nf3, the main line, to defend e5 and develop.
- Gain queenside space with a3 and b4, as in the engine line, before Black can castle long.
- Avoid 4.e3?, which runs into ...Bb4+ and the famous Lasker Trap.
- Use the extra e5 pawn as a wedge, and fianchetto with g3 and Bg2 to hit b7 and the long diagonal.
Black
- Push 3...d4 to cramp White and stop Nc3 from coming out easily.
- Develop the g8 knight to g6 by way of e7 to win back the e5 pawn.
- Play ...Nc6, ...Be6 or ...Bg4, ...Qd7 and castle queenside for a fast attack on White's king.
- Look for tricks with ...Bb4+ against an early e3, where the d4 pawn becomes a monster.
Plans and pawn structure
After 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 the d4 pawn splits White's position. White keeps the e5 pawn as long as possible and expands with a3 and b4, as in the engine line 4...Nc6 5.a3 Nge7 6.b4 Ng6. White also likes Nbd2, Nb3 and a kingside fianchetto. Black wants to win back e5 with ...Nge7 and ...Ng6, then castle and use the d4 pawn as a base for pieces. If White wins d4, Black has nothing; if Black regains e5 with active pieces, the game is level.
What the Albin Countergambit is about
The Albin Countergambit starts 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5. Black answers the Queen's Gambit with a gambit of its own. After 3.dxe5 d4 the pawn on d4 cuts White's position in two: it covers c3 and e3, so White's queen's knight has no natural square and e3 opens the door to tactics. Black hopes to win back the e5 pawn later or use the lead in development for an attack.
The engine prefers White after 3.dxe5, but it is a real fight. From 5769 games White scored 51.9%, close to a normal result. The Albin is objectively a little dubious, yet practical and dangerous for unprepared opponents. White's simplest path is to take the pawn, develop with Nf3, and leave the tactics to Black.
The main variations
The Normal Line, 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3, is the main path. The knight protects e5 and develops. White scored 49.5% in 1233 games, so it is balanced in practice. Black continues 4...Nc6, and the engine's plan for White is a3 and b4, gaining space and stopping Black's pieces from using b4. After 5.a3 Nge7 6.b4 Ng6 Black goes after the e5 pawn.
The Lasker Trap is the line every Albin player knows. After 4.e3? Bb4+ 5.Bd2 dxe3 6.Bxb4? 6...exf2+ 7.Ke2, Black plays 7...fxg1=N+, promoting to a knight with check, and wins. White should not play 4.e3 at all.
White can also decline the gambit. 3.cxd5 Qxd5 4.Nf3 and 3.Nc3 exd4 4.Qxd4 are both safe and lead to roughly equal positions, often with an early queen trade.
Typical plans for White
White wants to keep the extra pawn and make the d4 pawn a target. Typical moves are Nf3, a3, b4, Nbd2, g3 and Bg2. The fianchetto bishop on g2 hits the long diagonal and supports a later attack on b7. The knight from d2 can go to b3 to hit d4 directly.
- Gain queenside space with a3 and b4, especially if Black plans to castle long.
- Keep the e5 pawn while it is easy. If Black wins it back, play against the d4 pawn instead.
- Do not open the e-file with e3 until all your pieces are ready.
Typical plans for Black
Black's pieces come out fast: ...Nc6, ...Nge7 and ...Ng6 to hit e5, then ...Be7 or ...Bc5 and castling. Many Albin players put the queen on d7 or e7, the bishop on e6 or g4, and castle queenside to attack White's king with ...h5 and ...h4.
- The d4 pawn is Black's main asset. Protect it with pieces and use it to keep White's knights out of c3 and e3.
- Win back e5 with the knights, then use the extra space.
- Use checks on b4 whenever White plays e3 early.
If White declines with 3.cxd5 or 3.Nc3, Black should not chase a gambit that is no longer there. Trade queens if needed, finish development and play a normal game with good piece activity. The engine rates those lines as close to equal.
Mistakes club players make
- White playing 4.e3. It runs straight into ...Bb4+ and the Lasker Trap.
- White grabbing too much. Taking on d4 with the queen too early can leave the queen exposed to ...Nc6 and ...Bb4+.
- Black regaining e5 too slowly. If White gets a3, b4, g3 and castles, the e5 pawn stays and Black has nothing.
- Black castling into an attack. If White has b4 and a3 ready, a queenside castle can walk into b5 and c5 pawn storms.
Who should play it
The Albin suits Black players who want sharp play against 1.d4 and do not like the quiet Queen's Gambit Declined structures. It rewards knowing the key tricks and plans. Against a well-prepared opponent who knows 4.Nf3 and the a3, b4 plan, Black has to defend a slightly worse game.
For White, the safe approach is 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3, followed by a3, g3 and Nbd2. You keep a small, stable edge and avoid every trap.
A good habit for both sides is to count the attackers on d4 and e5 every few moves. Most Albin games are decided by who wins one of those two pawns. If White wins d4, Black's space is gone. If Black regains e5 with active pieces, the position is about equal.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.75: a clear edge for White. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.75 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.a3 Nge7
- +0.22 3.cxd5 Qxd5 4.Nf3 exd4 5.Nc3 Bb4
- +0.21 3.Nc3 exd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Qxd5 Be6
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
5,769 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.9%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Traps and pitfalls
Lasker Trap (Black sets it)
In the Albin Countergambit, 6.Bxb4 lets the black pawn run to f2 and then to g1. Black promotes to a knight with check and the white king is stuck in the center.
Variations of the Albin Countergambit
- Albin Countergambit, Normal Line3.dxe5 · 1,233 games
- Albin Countergambit, Krenosz Variation3.dxe5 · rare
How to play against it
As White, take on e5 and play 4.Nf3. Follow up with a3, b4, Nbd2 and g3, and do not play an early e3, which allows ...Bb4+ tricks. You do not have to hold the e5 pawn forever. A sound structure and the pressure on d4 are what matter.
Questions
What are the moves of the Albin Countergambit?
The Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit starts 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5. Its ECO code is D08.
Is the Albin Countergambit good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.75 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for White. In 5,769 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.9%. A fun weapon for attacking Black players at club level, but against a prepared opponent Black is somewhat worse and must play precisely.
What is the main idea of the Albin Countergambit?
Black gives up the e5 pawn to get a cramping pawn on d4 and quick development. The play is sharp, and both sides must know the tactics around ...Bb4+ and the d4 pawn.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is dxe5, with cxd5 and Nc3 close behind. 3.dxe5 takes the pawn, and after 3...d4 4.Nf3 White protects e5 and starts to develop.
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.