Chess Openings Lab
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Englund Gambit: Mosquito Gambit

The Mosquito Gambit is 1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Qh4, where Black brings the queen out at once instead of regaining the pawn. It is a poor gamble: the queen becomes a target, and White develops with gain of time while staying a pawn up.

Moves
1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Qh4
ECO
A40
Engine
+2.66 · a large advantage for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
192 games in our lichess sample
White scores
69.5%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play Nf3 to hit the h4 queen; it has to move again, often all the way back to d8.
  • Develop Nc3, Bf4 and e3, protecting the e5 pawn and preparing to castle on either side.
  • After Nc3 and ...Bc5, close the c5 bishop's diagonal with e3 so f2 is not attacked twice.

Black

  • Hope for White slips against f2, where the queen and a bishop on c5 can combine.
  • If the queen is chased, retreat calmly and develop ...Nc6, ...Bc5 and ...d6.
  • Use ...f6 later to open lines and try to regain the e5 pawn.

Plans and pawn structure

White develops with tempo, usually forcing the queen to retreat. With the extra pawn and a lead in development, White castles and slowly converts. Black's only hope is quick tactics against f2, but the queen on h4 does not attack anything that is badly defended. In practice Black ends up a pawn down, behind in development, and White scores very well in this line.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +2.66: a large advantage for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +2.66 3.Nf3 Qd8 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.Bf4 d6
  2. +2.40 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qe7
  3. +2.12 3.a3 f6 4.Nf3 Qh5 5.Bf4 fxe5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

192 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 69.5%.

under 120066.4%
1200–159981.3%

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

How to play against it

For White: develop with Nf3, Nc3 and Bf4, and keep the king safe. If Black plays ...Bc5, close the diagonal with e3. Don't play g3 just to chase the queen; it loosens your kingside. Avoid grabbing more pawns before you are developed.

Questions

What are the moves of the Englund Gambit: Mosquito Gambit?

The Englund Gambit: Mosquito Gambit starts 1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Qh4. Its ECO code is A40.

Is the Englund Gambit: Mosquito Gambit good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +2.66 at depth 20, which is a large advantage for White. Bad for Black; White should win with normal development and a little care around f2.

What is the main idea of the Englund Gambit: Mosquito Gambit?

Black brings the queen out early, hoping for tricks against f2. White develops with tempo, starting with Nf3, and stays a pawn up.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Nf3, with Nc3 and a3 close behind. Nf3 hits the queen and develops, so Black loses time immediately.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.