Chess Openings Lab
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

Blackmar-Diemer Gambit: Fritz Attack

The Fritz Attack is 3.Bc4, developing the bishop toward f7 instead of playing Nc3 or f3. White plans Ne2 and a later f3 to win e4 back, while Black can chase the bishop with ...Nc6 and ...Na5 and keep the extra pawn.

Moves
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Bc4
ECO
D00
Engine
−1.00 · a clear edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
432 games in our lichess sample
White scores
49.1%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Ne2 keeps the f-pawn free for f3 and protects d4 from ...Nc6 pressure.
  • Nbc3 and short castling come next, then f3 to open the f-file against f7.
  • If the bishop is hit by ...Na5, drop it back to b3 and recapture with the a-pawn to open the a-file.

Black

  • 3...Nc6 hits d4 at once, and ...Na5 next trades off the active c4 bishop.
  • ...Nf6 and ...a6 with ...b5 gain queenside space with tempo on the bishop.
  • ...e5 in the second engine line strikes the center after White castles.

Plans and pawn structure

White's whole idea is piece pressure on f7 and e4 with Bc4, Ne2, Nbc3 and f3. Black's best plan is to make the c4 bishop disappear or retreat, using ...Na5 or ...a6 and ...b5, and then develop with ...e6 and ...Nf6. Once the bishop is traded, White has little attack and remains a pawn down. If White gets f3 in with pieces aimed at f7, the position turns sharp.

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 engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −1.00: a clear edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −1.00 3...Nc6 4.Ne2 Na5 5.Bb3 e6 6.Nbc3
  2. −0.85 3...Nf6 4.Ne2 a6 5.a4 Nc6 6.O-O
  3. −0.81 3...a6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bg5 Nc6 6.Nge2

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

432 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 49.1%.

under 120042.4%
1200–159953.8%
1600–199951.1%

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

How to play against it

Play 3...Nc6, hitting d4, and follow with ...Na5 to trade the c4 bishop. Develop with ...e6 to blunt the bishop if it stays on c4, and keep f7 covered until you castle. White scored 49.1% overall here, and only 42.4% under 1200.

Questions

What are the moves of the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit: Fritz Attack?

The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit: Fritz Attack starts 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Bc4. Its ECO code is D00.

Is the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit: Fritz Attack good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −1.00 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for Black. In 432 lichess games from our sample, White scored 49.1%. An attacking sideline that only works if Black is careless around f7; a calm ...Nc6 and ...Na5 plan takes the sting out.

What is the main idea of the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit: Fritz Attack?

White develops the bishop to c4 aiming at f7 and plans Ne2 and f3 to regain e4. Black's main reply is ...Nc6 and ...Na5, trading the bishop and keeping the extra pawn.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Nc6, with Nf6 and a6 close behind. 3...Nc6 develops with pressure on d4 and prepares ...Na5 to trade White's best attacking piece.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.