Blackmar-Diemer Gambit
The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit starts 1.d4 d5 2.e4, where White gives the e-pawn and usually the f-pawn too for fast development and open lines. White wants a quick attack on the f-file and against Black's king, while Black wants to keep the extra pawn, finish development and trade pieces.
- Moves
- 1.d4 d5 2.e4
- ECO
- D00
- Engine
- −0.64 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 10,432 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 50.7%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- After ...dxe4, play Nc3 and f3 to open the f-file, then recapture on f3 with the knight for quick development.
- Aim the pieces at f7 and h7 with a bishop on c4 or d3, castle short, and use the half-open f-file for the rooks.
- Use Qxf3 in the Ryder only if you know the Halosar Trap; the engine rates the Ryder as clearly bad for White.
- Against ...e6 or ...c6, push e5 to gain space and reach a French or Caro-Kann type of structure.
Black
- Take the pawn with ...dxe4 and develop with ...Nf6; the engine's best line meets Bg5 calmly with ...c6 and ...h6.
- After the knight recapture on f3, the Teichmann with ...Bg4 pins the knight and slows White's kingside attack.
- Use ...e6 and ...Be7 to castle quickly, but remember White scores well against that setup in practice.
- Hit back in the center with ...c5 or ...e5 once development is done, returning the pawn if it frees the game.
Plans and pawn structure
In the accepted lines White is a pawn down but has an open f-file, quick development and pressure against f7 and the kingside. White castles short, brings a rook to the f-file, puts the queen on e1 or h4 and the bishops on c4 or d3, and tries to break through before Black consolidates. Black's plan is to finish development, keep the king safe and trade pieces. Every trade makes the extra pawn more valuable, and central breaks with ...c5 or ...e5 often end White's pressure.
Where the engine's main line heads: White pawn d4, no e-pawns for White, no d-pawn for Black. White has a pawn on d4 and no e-pawn; Black has no d-pawn. White has more central space; Black's pieces are free and the d4 pawn is a target.
What the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit is about
The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit begins 1.d4 d5 2.e4. White offers the e-pawn, and in the main line the f-pawn as well: after 2...dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 White recaptures with the knight and has open lines, quick development and a half-open f-file aimed at Black's king. In return Black has an extra pawn and no weaknesses.
The engine does not believe in it. Its first choice, 2...dxe4, leaves Black clearly better, and most of the main gambit lines are rated in Black's favor too. In practice the picture is different: White scored 50.7% in 10432 games from this position and more than 55% in several main lines. This is an opening where practical chances matter more than the evaluation.
The main variations
The Gambit Accepted, 4.f3 exf3, is the main line, with 5353 games and White scoring 55.7%. White usually recaptures with the knight and builds up with a bishop on d3, short castling and pressure on the f-file.
The Teichmann Defense, 5.Nxf3 Bg4, pins the knight and is the engine's favorite way to meet the main line. The Euwe Defense, 5.Nxf3 e6, is a compact setup with a bishop on e7 and short castling, but White scored 60.1% there, the best practical result among the main lines.
The Ryder Gambit, 5.Qxf3, offers the d4 pawn too. The engine rates it clearly bad for White. Black still has to be careful: in the Halosar Trap, 5...Qxd4 6.Be3 Qb4 7.O-O-O Bg4 8.Nb5 Bxf3 9.Nxc7# ends the game on the spot.
The original Blackmar Gambit, 3.f3, plays f3 before Nc3. It gives Black more options, and the engine rates it as one of White's worst tries.
The Zeller Defense, 3...Bf5, develops the bishop and lets White regain the pawn with f3, while the von Popiel, 4.Bg5, delays f3 and pins the knight instead. The engine line 4...c6 5.Nge2 h6 6.Bxf6 shows Black's calm answer to it.
Typical plans for White
White plays for the initiative, and every move counts. The usual setup after the knight recapture on f3 is a bishop on d3 or c4, short castling, the queen to e1 and then h4, and a rook on the f-file pointing at f7. A knight jump to e5 or g5 often starts the direct attack.
- Use the f-file. The open file is White's compensation for the pawn. Keep a rook there and target f7 and f6.
- Keep the pieces on. Trades help Black. Avoid queen trades unless you win the pawn back.
- Against the pin on f3. In the Teichmann, h3 asks the bishop to decide, and if it takes on f3, White gets the bishop pair.
- Declined lines. If Black answers 2.e4 with ...e6 or ...c6, push e5 and play a French or Caro-Kann Advance type structure.
Typical plans for Black
Black's plan is simple to state: keep the extra pawn, finish development and trade pieces. The safest setups put a bishop on e7 or g4, castle short quickly and use ...c6 and ...Nbd7 to keep the position compact.
- Pin the f3 knight. The Teichmann's ...Bg4 slows down Ne5 and the kingside attack.
- Strike in the center. Once your king is safe, ...c5 or ...e5 opens lines for your pieces and often lets you return the pawn on good terms.
- Avoid careless queen raids. In the Ryder, taking d4 with the queen is good, but only with care, as the Halosar Trap shows.
When White's attack runs out, the endgame favors Black. An extra pawn with no weaknesses is a real long-term edge.
Mistakes club players make
- Playing the gambit slowly. White players who make quiet moves after giving two pawns are just material down. Every tempo should go into the attack.
- The early 3.f3 and 3.Bc4. The Fritz Attack, 3.Bc4, and the original Blackmar move order are rated clearly worse than 3.Nc3.
- Black's greed in the Ryder. Taking d4 is good, but walking into the Halosar Trap with ...Bg4 after White castles long loses at once.
- Black keeping the king in the center. The f-file opens fast. Castle short before grabbing more.
- Avoiding trades as Black. Every trade weakens White's attack and makes the extra pawn count.
Who should play it
The Blackmar-Diemer suits White players who love attacking chess and accept an objectively worse position for the initiative. It works best in fast games and against opponents who defend passively, and the practical scores in the main lines show that it is dangerous at club level.
Against a well-prepared opponent who knows the Teichmann or the engine's calm replies, White has little to show for the pawn. Black players should welcome it: take the pawn, develop and trade.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.64: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:
- −0.64 2...dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 c6 5.Nge2
- +0.20 2...c6 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2
- +0.32 2...e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
10,432 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.7%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Traps and pitfalls
Halosar Trap (White sets it)
In the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, Black attacks the white queen with 7...Bg4. White ignores it with 8.Nb5, and if Black takes the queen, 9.Nxc7# follows because the rook on d1 controls the open d-file.
Variations of the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit
- Blackmar Gambit2...dxe4 · 2,098 games
- Euwe Defense, Zilbermints Gambit2...dxe4 · rare
How to play against it
As Black, accept the pawn with ...dxe4. The engine's main line 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 c6 5.Nge2 h6 shows a calm answer to the von Popiel, and after the f3 push a simple ...exf3 with quick development is good. Do not get greedy with the queen in the Ryder lines, and do not leave your king in the center.
Full guide: how to beat the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit
Other lines with this name
The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6.
Questions
What are the moves of the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit?
The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit starts 1.d4 d5 2.e4. Its ECO code is D00.
Is the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.64 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 10,432 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.7%. A gambit for attacking White players who accept an objectively worse position for practical chances, and it demands fast, aggressive play.
What is the main idea of the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit?
White gives up a pawn, and usually a second one with f3, to open lines and develop fast for a kingside attack. Black takes the material, develops calmly and trades pieces; the engine thinks Black is clearly better with accurate play.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is dxe4, with c6 and e6 close behind. 2...dxe4 takes the offered pawn, and with calm development Black keeps it with the better game.
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.