Chess Openings Lab
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Englund Gambit: Main Line

The Englund Gambit Main Line is 1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7, where Black's queen piles onto the e5 pawn and sets a well-known trap. It is a dubious gambit: White keeps an edge by developing with tempo, but careless moves around b2 can backfire.

Moves
1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7
ECO
A40
Engine
+1.67 · a large advantage for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
7,708 games in our lichess sample
White scores
49.5%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play Bg5 first, hitting the e7 queen so that ...Qe6 or another queen move costs Black time.
  • Develop Nc3 and accept giving back the e5 pawn if it means damaging nothing important and staying ahead in development.
  • If you choose Bf4, keep b2 and the c1 to c3 squares in mind when Black's queen checks on b4.

Black

  • Hit e5 twice with the queen and c6 knight, aiming to regain the pawn with ...Nxe5.
  • Answer Bf4 with ...Qb4+, which attacks the bishop's side of the board and the b2 pawn at once.
  • Use ...Bb4 pins once the f8 bishop is free, for example after the queen leaves e7.

Plans and pawn structure

White is a pawn up, but the e5 pawn is attacked twice and can be returned if needed. The cleanest approach is Bg5 with tempo on the queen, then Nc3 and Bd2 or a3 to deal with ...Bb4. Black wants the pawn back and quick development; the queen on e7 blocks the f8 bishop, so Black's play can be slow. In the Bf4 lines, both sides must watch the b2 pawn and Black's queen check on b4.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +1.67: a large advantage for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +1.67 4.Bg5 Qe6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Bd2 d5
  2. +1.54 4.Bf4 d6 5.exd6 Qf6 6.Qc1 Bxd6
  3. +1.41 4.Nc3 Nxe5 5.Bf4 Nxf3+ 6.gxf3 c6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

7,708 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 49.5%.

under 120046.2%
1200–159948.1%
1600–199949.9%
2000 and up59.9%

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.

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The Englund Gambit Trap explained

Where it goes next

How to play against it

For White: Bg5 or Nc3 are the safest replies. If you play Bf4, meet ...Qb4+ calmly and don't let Black's queen and bishop combine against c3 and c1 after a grab on b2. Giving back the e5 pawn for fast development is fine; trying too hard to keep it is where the trap bites.

Questions

What are the moves of the Englund Gambit: Main Line?

The Englund Gambit: Main Line starts 1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7. Its ECO code is A40.

Is the Englund Gambit: Main Line good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +1.67 at depth 20, which is a large advantage for White. In 7,708 lichess games from our sample, White scored 49.5%. A trap-based gambit that can win quick games against unprepared opponents, but White should stay comfortably better with calm development.

What is the main idea of the Englund Gambit: Main Line?

Black attacks e5 with queen and knight and sets up a check on b4 against Bf4. White should develop with tempo and not overreach to keep the pawn.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Bg5, with Bf4 and Nc3 close behind. Bg5 develops with tempo on the e7 queen and makes Black's coordination harder.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.