Chess Openings Lab
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Englund Gambit: Stockholm Variation

The Stockholm Variation is 4.Qd5 in the Englund main line, where White's queen defends the e5 pawn from the center and also eyes f7. Black now needs active counterplay, and ...f6 is the most direct way to hit e5 and gain time on the exposed queen.

Moves
1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7 4.Qd5
ECO
A40
Engine
+0.86 · a clear edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
799 games in our lichess sample
White scores
56.1%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Keep the e5 pawn guarded with the d5 queen and the f3 knight, and develop Nc3 and Bf4.
  • After ...f6 exf6 Nxf6, move the queen to b3 so it eyes b7 and the f7 square from a safe distance.
  • If Black trades queens with ...d6 lines, head for an endgame a pawn up with e3 and Bd2.

Black

  • Strike with ...f6; after exf6 Nxf6 the knight develops with tempo on the d5 queen.
  • Follow up with ...d5 and ...Bd7, using the open f-file and quick development for compensation.
  • Avoid ...d6 and an early queen trade, which leaves Black simply a pawn down in an ending.

Plans and pawn structure

White's queen on d5 is active but can be harassed. Black's best is ...f6, regaining time with ...Nxf6 and building a center with ...d5. White develops with Bg5, e3 and castles, keeping the extra pawn or at least a lead in development. In the ...b6 line, Black's queen raid on b2 is risky and White gets Rb1 and open lines against Black's king.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.86: a clear edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.86 4...f6 5.exf6 Nxf6 6.Qb3 d5 7.Bg5
  2. +1.35 4...b6 5.Nc3 Bb7 6.Bf4 Qb4 7.Qd2
  3. +1.38 4...d6 5.exd6 Qxd6 6.Qxd6 Bxd6 7.e3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

799 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 56.1%.

under 120053.8%
1200–159956.7%
1600–199954.3%
2000 and up62.6%

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

How to play against it

For Black: play ...f6 and develop with gain of time on the queen. Avoid ...d6, which allows a queen trade and a pawn-down ending. Don't grab b2 with the queen unless you have calculated White's Rb1 and the lead in development that follows.

Questions

What are the moves of the Englund Gambit: Stockholm Variation?

The Englund Gambit: Stockholm Variation starts 1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7 4.Qd5. Its ECO code is A40.

Is the Englund Gambit: Stockholm Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.86 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for White. In 799 lichess games from our sample, White scored 56.1%. Good for White in practice; Black must know ...f6 to stay in the game.

What is the main idea of the Englund Gambit: Stockholm Variation?

White's queen holds e5 from d5. Black plays ...f6 and develops with tempo on the queen.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is f6, with b6 and d6 close behind. ...f6 attacks e5 and opens a developing move with tempo on the queen.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.