Chess Openings Lab
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Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Accepted: Euwe Defense

The Euwe Defense is 5...e6 in the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Accepted, a solid French-style setup that blunts White's attacking chances. White is a pawn down but has open lines and wants Bd3, castling and kingside pressure, while Black aims for ...c5 to hit d4.

Moves
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 e6
ECO
D00
Engine
−0.39 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,142 games in our lichess sample
White scores
60.1%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Bd3 and short castling bring pieces to the kingside fast, aiming at h7 and down the f-file.
  • Bg5 with Qd2 and long castling is a sharper plan, pinning the f6 knight and lining up the rooks.
  • Ne5 is a typical jump, adding pressure to f7 together with a rook on f1 after castling.

Black

  • ...c5 hits d4 at once; after Be3 and ...cxd4, Nxd4 and ...Bb4 give Black easy development.
  • ...a6, ...b5 and ...Bb7 is a useful plan against slow play, putting the bishop on the long diagonal.
  • ...Be7 and short castling get the king out of the center before White's attack builds.

Plans and pawn structure

White's assets are the half-open f-file and a lead in development; Black's are an extra pawn and a sound structure with no weak squares. White plays Bd3, short castling, Qe1 or Ne5, and tries to hit f6, f7 and h7. Black plays ...Be7, castles and then ...c5 to attack the d4 pawn. If White's attack stalls, Black's extra pawn and better structure tell in the endgame.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.39: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for White:

  1. −0.39 6.Bd3 c5 7.Be3 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bb4
  2. −0.46 6.a3 a6 7.Bd3 b5 8.Bg5 Bb7
  3. −0.51 6.Bg5 Be7 7.Qd2 a6 8.O-O-O b5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,142 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 60.1%.

under 120046.2%
1200–159960.1%
1600–199962.1%
2000 and up57.3%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Euwe Defense, Duthilleul Gambit6.Bd3 · rare
  • Euwe Defense, Zilbermints Gambit6.Bg5 · rare

How to play against it

As White, do not rush. Play Bd3 and castle first, then decide between Bg5 and Ne5. Watch for ...c5 hitting d4: answer with Be3 so the d4 square stays covered. Black's setup has no weak pawns, so a slow attack often meets ...Be7 and short castling with no targets.

Questions

What are the moves of the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Accepted: Euwe Defense?

The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Accepted: Euwe Defense starts 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 e6. Its ECO code is D00.

Is the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Accepted: Euwe Defense good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.39 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 1,142 lichess games from our sample, White scored 60.1%. A reliable antidote for Black; White must be precise and patient, because the ...e6 setup gives few targets.

What is the main idea of the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Accepted: Euwe Defense?

Black keeps the extra pawn behind a French-style ...e6 shell and plans ...c5 to hit d4. White uses the open f-file and quick development to try to attack before Black consolidates.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Bd3, with a3 and Bg5 close behind. 6.Bd3 develops toward h7 and prepares short castling, the most natural way to use White's lead in development.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.