Chess Openings Lab
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Scandinavian Defense: Kloosterboer Gambit

The Kloosterboer Gambit is 2...c6 3.dxc6 e5, where Black ignores the pawn on c6 and pushes the e-pawn instead. White can grab a second pawn with cxb7, while Black hopes the open lines and the long diagonal give enough play for the material.

Moves
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 c6 3.dxc6 e5
ECO
B01
Engine
+1.64 · a large advantage for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
973 games in our lichess sample
White scores
47.2%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Take again with 4.cxb7, the top engine move, and after ...Bxb7 develop with Nf3, Nc3 and Bc4.
  • If you prefer less theory, 4.Nc3 or 4.Bc4 lets Black win back c6 but keeps a pawn and an easy game.
  • Keep the f3 knight covering d4 and e5, and castle short before Black's pieces arrive.
  • Use the extra pawns calmly: trade pieces and avoid opening the long diagonal toward g2.

Black

  • After cxb7, recapture with ...Bxb7 so the bishop eyes g2 and the e4 square.
  • Develop with ...Nc6, ...Nf6 and ...Bd6 or ...Bc5 for quick central pressure.
  • Against Nc3 or Bc4, take back on c6 with the knight and play like a normal gambit a pawn down.
  • Castle early and push ...e4 when it kicks a white knight off f3.

Plans and pawn structure

If White takes on b7, Black is two pawns down with two open bishops and a lead in development. White develops with Nf3, Nc3 and Bc4, castles, and tries to trade into a quiet position. Black needs fast play: ...Nc6, ...Nf6, ...Bd6 and castling, then ...e4 to push the f3 knight away from the king. If White declines the second pawn, Black regains c6 with ...Nxc6 and the game resembles the Blackburne Gambit with a pawn for activity.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +1.64: a large advantage for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +1.64 4.cxb7 Bxb7 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Nc3 Nf6
  2. +0.93 4.Nc3 Nxc6 5.Bc4 Nf6 6.d3 Bc5
  3. +0.82 4.Bc4 Nxc6 5.d3 Nf6 6.Nf3 Bg4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

973 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 47.2%.

1200–159946.0%
1600–199947.6%
2000 and up48.3%

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

How to play against it

As White, take the second pawn with 4.cxb7 and then develop normally with Nf3, Nc3 and Bc4. Do not hunt for more material. Castle short and watch the b7 bishop's diagonal toward g2. As Black, develop quickly and be ready to push ...e4.

Questions

What are the moves of the Scandinavian Defense: Kloosterboer Gambit?

The Scandinavian Defense: Kloosterboer Gambit starts 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 c6 3.dxc6 e5. Its ECO code is B01.

Is the Scandinavian Defense: Kloosterboer Gambit good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +1.64 at depth 20, which is a large advantage for White. In 973 lichess games from our sample, White scored 47.2%. A risky gambit that works only against unprepared opponents, and a White player who takes on b7 and castles keeps a big edge.

What is the main idea of the Scandinavian Defense: Kloosterboer Gambit?

Black ignores the pawn on c6 and builds the center with ...e5, hoping for quick development. White can win a second pawn with cxb7 and then develop calmly.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is cxb7, with Nc3 and Bc4 close behind. 4.cxb7 wins another pawn, and after ...Bxb7 White simply develops and castles.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.