Englund Gambit: Every Variation, Plans and Traps

Key ideas for both sides

White

Take the pawn with dxe5 and defend it with Nf3 and Bf4; the engine gives White a clear plus.
Avoid the trap line with Bf4 after ...Qe7. Bg5 or Nc3 develop without allowing ...Qb4+ and ...Qxb2.
Give back the pawn on your terms if needed, and use the lead in development against Black's loose queen.
If you prefer to avoid all theory, decline with e3 or Nc3 and reach a normal queen's pawn game.

Black

After dxe5, develop with ...Nc6 and ...Qe7 to attack e5 and set up ...Qb4+ ideas against b2.
Use the Hartlaub-Charlick idea, ...d6, to open lines quickly and develop the c8 bishop.
Look for traps rather than soundness; against careful play White keeps a clear edge.
Against a decline with Nf3, the push ...e4 gains space and chases the knight.

Plans and pawn structure

After 2.dxe5 White is a pawn up and wants Nf3, Bf4 or Bg5, e3 and Nc3, holding the e5 pawn or returning it for a lead in development. Black's play rests on the queen and knights: ...Nc6 and ...Qe7 attack e5, and ...Qb4+ hits b2. The engine line 2.dxe5 d5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bf4 Nge7 5.e3 shows White calmly keeping the pawn. When White declines with 2.e3 or 2.Nc3 the game turns into a normal open center with equal chances.

What the Englund Gambit is about

After 1.d4 e5 Black gives up a pawn at move one. The idea is speed: after 2.dxe5 Black develops with ...Nc6, ...Qe7 and other active moves, attacks the e5 pawn and looks for tactics against White's queenside, above all on b2.

Across 48132 games White scored only 51.1%, which shows how well the gambit works in fast club games. The engine sees it differently. After 2.dxe5 White has a clear advantage, and the main line keeps that edge with simple moves. White's other choices, 2.Nc3 and 2.e3, are calmer and give a small plus.

The main variations

The Englund Gambit Declined, 2.d5, is the most played reply. White avoids the pawn grab and gains space. The engine thinks Black is slightly better here, because White has given up the chance to take a pawn for free.

The Hartlaub-Charlick Gambit, 2.dxe5 d6, is the most common way to play the gambit. Black opens lines for the bishops at once. The engine line 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bg5 f6 5.exf6 Nxf6 shows White returning the structure but keeping a clear plus.

The Main Line, 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7, attacks e5 with the queen and prepares ...Qb4+. White's best is 4.Bg5, and the engine line continues 4...Qe6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Bd2. The natural 4.Bf4 is the mistake: the Englund Gambit trap follows with 4...Qb4+ 5.Bd2 Qxb2 6.Bc3 Bb4 7.Qd2 Bxc3 8.Qxc3 Qc1 mate. The Stockholm Variation, 4.Qd5, is another way to hold the pawn.

The Soller Gambit, 2...f6, offers a second pawn to open the f-file. The engine line 3.e4 Nc6 4.Nf3 fxe5 5.Bc4 shows White developing quickly and hitting the weak g8-a2 diagonal. White scored 55.2% here.

The Reversed French, 2.e3, is a safe decline. After 2...exd4 3.exd4 d5 the structure is symmetrical and roughly equal.

Typical plans for White

After 2.dxe5 the plan is simple: develop with Nf3, a bishop to f4 or g5, e3 and Nc3, then castle. White holds the extra pawn when it is easy, and gives it back when that brings a lead in development.

Watch b2. Many Englund traps end with ...Qb4+ and ...Qxb2. Keep the b2 pawn defended or make sure the c1 bishop is not cut off.
Use Nc3. In many lines the queen's knight covers d5 and b5 and blocks the long diagonal.
Trade queens if offered. The gambit lives on queen activity, so a queen trade often leaves White simply a pawn up.

Typical plans for Black

Black must play fast. The pieces go to c6, e7 or f6, and the queen often jumps to e7 to hit e5. The c8 bishop wants g4 or f5, and ...d6 or ...f6 opens lines while White is still developing.

Set problems early: ...Qb4+ is the key idea in the main line.
Against the Declined lines, Black gets a normal game with ...Bc5, ...d6 and ...Nf6.
If White plays correctly, accept a slightly worse position rather than throwing more pawns at the problem.

Mistakes club players make

4.Bf4 in the main line. It allows ...Qb4+ and the mating trap on c1. Play 4.Bg5 or 4.Nc3.
Grabbing pawns with the queen. White players often chase Black's loose pawns while the king sits in the center.
Black playing the gambit for its own sake. The Felbecker and Soller lines leave Black clearly worse against careful play.
Panicking and declining badly. 2.Nf3 e4 sends the knight back; the Reversed Krebs has scored well for Black.
The Mosquito Gambit, 2...Qh4. White scored 69.5% there; the early queen move simply loses time.

Who should play it

The Englund suits Black players who play mostly blitz and bullet and enjoy setting traps. It can win quickly against opponents who do not know it.

It is not a good choice for long games against strong players, who will take the pawn and develop calmly. White players should spend a few minutes learning the main line, because the traps are the whole point of the gambit.

If you like the idea of an early ...e5 against 1.d4 but want something sounder, keep the Englund for fast games and use a main line defense in serious ones.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +1.31: a clear edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

+1.31 2.dxe5 d5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bf4 Nge7
+0.37 2.Nc3 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qd3 Bc5
+0.19 2.e3 exd4 3.exd4 d5 4.Nf3 Nf6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

48,132 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.1%.

under 120053.3%

1200–159950.4%

1600–199950.3%

2000 and up55.2%

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

Traps and pitfalls

Englund Gambit Trap (Black sets it)

Black's queen grabs the b2 pawn in the Englund Gambit, and White's 6.Bc3, which attacks the queen, walks straight into a pin. After 6...Bb4 7.Qd2 Bxc3 8.Qxc3, the queen mates on c1.

The Englund Gambit Trap explained

Variations of the Englund Gambit

Englund Gambit Declined2.d5 · 18,177 games
Hartlaub-Charlick Gambit2.dxe5 · 11,518 games
Reversed French2.e3 · 8,142 games
Reversed Alekhine2.Nf3 · 1,377 games
Diemer Counterattack2.d5 · rare

How to play against it

As White, take the pawn with 2.dxe5 and develop with Nf3. In the main line after 3...Qe7, avoid 4.Bf4, which walks into a famous trap; Bg5 or Nc3 keep a clear advantage. Do not grab more pawns with your queen early, and castle before going after material.

Full guide: how to beat the Englund Gambit

Questions

What are the moves of the Englund Gambit?

The Englund Gambit starts 1.d4 e5. Its ECO code is A40.

Is the Englund Gambit good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +1.31 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for White. In 48,132 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.1%. A fun blitz weapon for Black that wins quickly against unprepared opponents, but White should take the pawn and keep a clear edge with sensible moves.

What is the main idea of the Englund Gambit?

Black gives up the e5 pawn after 2.dxe5 to gain time and set traps, most of all ...Qe7 and ...Qb4+ against b2. Against careful play White keeps the pawn and a clear edge, so the gambit lives on surprise.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is dxe5, with Nc3 and e3 close behind. 2.dxe5 grabs the pawn; with Nf3 and Bf4 to follow, White keeps the extra material and a comfortable position.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.