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Danish Gambit for White

From the first move: , and, when Black captures with , , the Danish Gambit. If Black accepts the pawns, your bishops on and aim at f7 and g7, and you develop before winning material back. If Black declines with or answers otherwise, you take the pawn back and play with a comfortable centre. The gambit is sound: with exact defence Black equalises, but at your level White scores better than in the rest of 1.e4 e5.

28 lines in 4 chapters.

The first lesson is free. The rest of the course opens with Premium:

The plans in this course

The bishop eyes f7

Press the weak point next to the black king

When Black takes with , you are in no hurry to win the pawn back. First you develop the bishop with , aiming at f7, the weakest square next to the black king. Material can wait: what matters is developing with tempo. If Black gets careless, as with , the blow appears. With exact defence Black equalises, but they have to find it.

6 in 10 players rated 2200+ choose it online.See dataHide

Online, 2200+: 62% of 596. It is hardly played over the board at 2300+.

King safety first

Finish developing before winning pawns back

After you are two pawns down with two bishops aimed at the kingside. That gained time is only worth something if you use it. So you bring out the knights with and or , and castle with before going after material. You attack while the black king is still in the centre, not before.

3 in 10 players rated 2200+ choose it online.See dataHide

Online, 2200+: 32% of 197. It is hardly played over the board at 2300+.

Against the decline, take the centre

Win the pawn back and keep a healthy centre

If Black returns the pawn with , there is no gambit. You exchange with and win back the d4 pawn with . You keep a pawn on d4 and easy development. After , play first to protect d4; the knight on c3 comes later.

6 in 10 players rated 2200+ choose it online.See dataHide

Online, 2200+: 56% of 488. It is hardly played over the board at 2300+.

Against the queen on e7

Gain development time against the active queen

With Black puts pressure on the e4 pawn. You recapture with and do not worry about that pawn. If the queen takes it with , you block with and follow with . The black queen is exposed and you are ahead in development.

4 in 10 players rated 2200+ choose it online.See dataHide

Online, 2200+: 43% of 150. It is hardly played over the board at 2300+.

Recapture while developing

Win the pawn back while bringing out a piece

If Black pushes with , you take that pawn with . That way you win back the material and develop the bishop in one move. Your e4 pawn stays in the centre and the queen does not need to come out early. Then you continue with and .

9 in 10 players rated 2200+ choose it online.See dataHide

Online, 2200+: 89% of 130. It is hardly played over the board at 2300+.

If Black accepts the gambit after

0 of 8 done

You will learn to play against f7, develop and castle before winning material back, and to exchange with instead of playing .

The most common mistake, on move 6; 13 players in 100 play it. lets Black trade: and you lose your active bishop and are two pawns down.

The bishop eyes f7King safety first

  1. NextIf Black closes with 6 moves of yoursStart
  2. Not started without taking on b27 moves of yoursPaid
  3. Not started with the pawn on d67 moves of yoursPaid
  4. Not startedIf Black hits e4 with 7 moves of yoursPaid
  5. Not startedIf Black develops both knights7 moves of yoursPaid
  6. Not started and the pawn to d67 moves of yoursPaid
  7. Not started with the knight on c66 moves of yoursPaid
  8. Not started after taking on b29 moves of yoursPaid

If Black gives the pawn back after

You will learn to recapture with and , and to defend d4 with before playing .

The most common mistake, on move 6; 23 players in 100 play it. attacks the queen but leaves d4 undefended: takes it. After you are a pawn down.

Against the decline, take the centre

If Black pushes the pawn on after

You will learn to recapture with and keep developing with and .

Recapture while developing

If Black brings out the queen after

You will learn to recapture with and answer with and .

The most common mistake, on move 4; 5 players in 100 play it. wins nothing back. Black goes , and after they break your centre and you stay a pawn down.

Against the queen on e7