What are the moves of the Danish Gambit?

1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3. After these moves it is black to move.

What variations come from the Danish Gambit?

Named continuations include Danish Gambit Accepted, Danish Gambit Accepted: Svenonius Defense, Danish Gambit Declined: Sörensen Defense, Danish Gambit Accepted: Chigorin Defense, Danish Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense. There are 7 named variations reachable from this position in total.

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Chess Openings

Danish Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 · ECO C21

♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♙♙♙♙♙♙♙♖♘♗♕♔♗♘♖

Danish Gambit is a chess opening that arises after 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3. It is classified C21 in the ECO system, and the position after these moves has black to move. The Danish Gambit offers one and often two pawns to open lines and develop the bishops onto the long diagonals aimed at Black's king. It is one of the most direct attacking tries in chess and belongs to the nineteenth-century romantic tradition.

Strategic character

All-or-nothing. White's two bishops raking the kingside generate real threats, but modern defensive technique — particularly returning the material at the right moment — neutralises the attack and leaves Black better.

Who should play it

Attacking players in rapid and blitz, where the practical difficulty of defending accurately matters more than the objective evaluation.

Variations continuing from this position

Each of these is a named opening reached by playing on from 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3. Open any of them to load the position on the board.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Danish Gambit?: The Danish Gambit is a chess opening that arises after 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3. It is classified C21 in the ECO system. The Danish Gambit offers one and often two pawns to open lines and develop the bishops onto the long diagonals aimed at Black's king. It is one of the most direct attacking tries in chess and belongs to the nineteenth-century romantic tradition.
What are the moves of the Danish Gambit?: 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3. After these moves it is black to move.
Is the Danish Gambit good for beginners?: Attacking players in rapid and blitz, where the practical difficulty of defending accurately matters more than the objective evaluation.
What variations come from the Danish Gambit?: Named continuations include Danish Gambit Accepted, Danish Gambit Accepted: Svenonius Defense, Danish Gambit Declined: Sörensen Defense, Danish Gambit Accepted: Chigorin Defense, Danish Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense. There are 7 named variations reachable from this position in total.