Chess Openings Lab
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Danish Gambit Accepted: Schlechter Defense

The Schlechter Defense in the Danish is 5...d5, giving back a pawn to open the d-file and kill White's attacking chances. White's best answer leads to queen trades and a level ending, while other recaptures let Black develop with a clear edge.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 d5
ECO
C21
Engine
−0.17 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
172 games in our lichess sample
White scores
37.2%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 6.Bxd5 is the engine's choice. After ...Nf6, Bxf7+ and Qxd8 trade into an equal endgame.
  • Do not take with 6.exd5 casually. Black develops with ...Nf6 and ...Bd6 and keeps a pawn.
  • 6.Qxd5 trades queens too, but ...Bb4+ then wins time and leaves Black better.
  • In the ending, the b2 bishop and active knights are White's main assets.

Black

  • After 6.Bxd5 Nf6, the trades leave Black's king on f7 in a queenless middlegame that is about equal.
  • If White plays 6.exd5, develop with ...Nf6, ...Bd6 and short castling, then ...Bg4 to pin.
  • Use ...Bb4+ to trade bishops and gain time whenever White's queen recaptures.
  • Black is happy to trade queens: it ends White's attack while Black keeps the safer structure.

Plans and pawn structure

The d-file opens immediately, and both queens face each other. After 6.Bxd5 Nf6 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qxd8 Bb4+ 9.Qd2 Bxd2+, the queens are gone and material is level, so the game becomes a technical ending where White's b2 bishop and Black's king activity matter most. After 6.exd5 Black keeps an extra pawn and gets fast development with ...Nf6, ...Bd6 and ...O-O. White's attacking chances, the whole point of the Danish, mostly disappear.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.17: level. Its three top choices for White:

  1. −0.17 6.Bxd5 Nf6 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qxd8 Bb4+
  2. −0.86 6.exd5 Nf6 7.Nf3 Bd6 8.O-O O-O
  3. −1.04 6.Qxd5 Qxd5 7.exd5 Bb4+ 8.Bc3 Bxc3+

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

172 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 37.2%.

1600–199934.1%
2000 and up47.8%

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

How to play against it

As White, go for 6.Bxd5 and the forcing line to a level ending. Avoid 6.exd5 and 6.Qxd5, which leave Black a pawn up with easy development. White scored badly in our sample, so treat this as a line to neutralize, not to attack.

Questions

What are the moves of the Danish Gambit Accepted: Schlechter Defense?

The Danish Gambit Accepted: Schlechter Defense starts 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 d5. Its ECO code is C21.

Is the Danish Gambit Accepted: Schlechter Defense good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.17 at depth 20, which is level. A sound, practical choice for Black players who would rather trade queens than defend against a Danish attack; White needs precise play just to hold balance.

What is the main idea of the Danish Gambit Accepted: Schlechter Defense?

Black gives a pawn back with ...d5 to open the center and force queen trades. That takes the sting out of White's two bishops, and White's best line only reaches a level ending.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Bxd5, with exd5 and Qxd5 close behind. 6.Bxd5 recaptures with the bishop and leads by force to a queenless position where White's activity balances Black's structure.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.