Englund Gambit
Main Line
1. d4 e5
Overview
The most extreme anti-1.d4 gambit — Black sacrifices the e-pawn on move ONE. After 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7 Black sets up the famous Englund Trap: 4.Bf4 Qb4+ 5.Bd2 Qxb2 6.Bc3?? Bb4! and White loses material in 8 moves. The correct White antidote is 6.Nc3 (Zilbermints Variation). Named after Swedish chess organizer Fritz Englund (1871–1933) who ran a 1932 Stockholm thematic tournament where every game began 1.d4 e5!?. Objectively unsound (engine +0.80 to +1.20 for White) but a serious online bullet and blitz surprise weapon — Hikaru Nakamura has played it in dozens of GM-level bullet games scoring above 50%.
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Open chess.rodeo ↗Related Openings
1. d4 d5 2. c4
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6
1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5
Frequently asked questions
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What is the Englund Gambit?
The Englund Gambit (ECO code A40) is a chess opening that begins with 1. d4 e5. The most extreme anti-1.d4 gambit — Black sacrifices the e-pawn on move ONE. After 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7 Black sets up the famous Englund Trap: 4.Bf4 Qb4+ 5.Bd2 Qxb2 6.Bc3?? Bb4! and White loses material in 8 moves. The correct White antidote is 6.Nc3 (Zilbermints Variation). Named after Swedish chess organizer Fritz Englund (1871–1933) who ran a 1932 Stockholm thematic tournament where every game began 1.d4 e5!?. Objectively unsound (engine +0.80 to +1.20 for White) but a serious online bullet and blitz surprise weapon — Hikaru Nakamura has played it in dozens of GM-level bullet games scoring above 50%.
What are the main moves of the Englund Gambit?
The main line of the Englund Gambit is 1. d4 e5. It is classified under ECO code A40 and falls in the Closed Game family of chess openings. From this starting position, both sides have well-established plans — White typically continues with natural developing moves while Black follows the response patterns described above.
Is the Englund Gambit good for beginners?
The Englund Gambit is a reasonable choice for beginners who want exposure to closed game positions. The main line (1. d4 e5) is easy to remember, and the resulting middlegame patterns are well-documented. Focus on understanding the typical pawn structure rather than memorizing 15 moves of theory — engine review of your own games at chess.rodeo is more useful than theory study at the club level.
What ECO code is the Englund Gambit?
The Englund Gambit is classified as ECO code A40. ECO (Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings) is the standard five-letter classification system developed by Chess Informant in the 1970s — A-codes cover flank openings, B-codes 1.e4 replies that aren't 1...e5, C-codes 1.e4 e5 openings, D-codes 1.d4 d5 systems, and E-codes Indian Defenses. You can browse all openings by ECO code in our free opening database.
How do I analyze my Englund Gambit games for free?
Use chess.rodeo for full Stockfish analysis of your Englund Gambit games — no account required, no daily cap, no paywall. Paste your PGN and get instant engine evaluation on every move, including the opening phase. For move-by-move replay without engine output, use our free PGN viewer. Both are completely free with no signup.