Queen's Pawn Game: Hübsch Gambit
The Hübsch Gambit is 3.e4 after 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5, offering the e-pawn for quick development. White hopes for fast attacking play, but Black takes on e4 and stays well ahead in the position.
- Moves
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e4
- ECO
- D00
- Engine
- −0.65 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 452 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 47.3%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- After 3...dxe4, play f3 to open the f-file and recapture with the knight on f3.
- Develop fast with Bg5 and Qd2, aiming to castle long and attack.
- After 3...Nxe4 trade knights and use Be3 and f3 to win back the e4 pawn.
- Do not expect an advantage; the engine line shows Black better after accurate play.
Black
- Take with 3...dxe4; after f3 take again and fianchetto with ...g6 and ...Bg7.
- 3...Nxe4 is also strong: after the knight trade ...Nd7 and ...Nf6 hold e4.
- Avoid 3...c5, which gives White good, free play after exd5 and Nxd5.
- Castle short and use the extra pawn or the better structure in the middlegame.
Plans and pawn structure
This is a dubious gambit for White. After 3...dxe4 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3, White has open lines and plans Bg5, Qd2 and long castling for an attack, but Black is a pawn up and gets a safe king after ...g6 and ...Bg7. In the 3...Nxe4 lines White wins the pawn back with Be3 and f3, but Black's pieces are well placed. Black should play calmly, finish development and use the extra pawn.
Where the engine's main line heads: White pawn d4, no e-pawns for White, no d-pawn for Black. White has a pawn on d4 and no e-pawn; Black has no d-pawn. White has more central space; Black's pieces are free and the d4 pawn is a target.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.65: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:
- −0.65 3...dxe4 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 g6 6.Bg5
- −0.63 3...Nxe4 4.Nxe4 dxe4 5.Be3 Nd7 6.f3
- +0.18 3...c5 4.exd5 Nxd5 5.Nxd5 Qxd5 6.Nf3
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
452 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 47.3%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
As Black, take the pawn with 3...dxe4 or 3...Nxe4. Then develop with ...g6 and ...Bg7 or ...Nd7 and ...Nf6, and castle. Avoid 3...c5, which hands White easy play. Do not grab more pawns at the cost of development or king safety.
Questions
What are the moves of the Queen's Pawn Game: Hübsch Gambit?
The Queen's Pawn Game: Hübsch Gambit starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e4. Its ECO code is D00.
Is the Queen's Pawn Game: Hübsch Gambit good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.65 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 452 lichess games from our sample, White scored 47.3%. A dubious gambit for White that works mostly as a surprise, and Black does well by taking and developing calmly.
What is the main idea of the Queen's Pawn Game: Hübsch Gambit?
White gives up the e-pawn for quick development and attacking chances. Black takes it with ...dxe4 or ...Nxe4 and keeps a healthy extra pawn or the better game.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is dxe4, with Nxe4 and c5 close behind. 3...dxe4 takes the pawn and forces White to spend time on f3 to get it back.
Related lines
- Queen's Pawn Game (1.d4 sidelines)
- Accelerated London System
- Chigorin Variation
- Modern Defense
- Zukertort Variation
- Symmetrical Variation
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.