Danish Gambit position after 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3. White: pawn on e4, pawn on c3, pawn on a2, pawn on b2, pawn on f2, pawn on g2, pawn on h2, rook on a1, knight on b1, bishop on c1, queen on d1, king on e1, bishop on f1, knight on g1, rook on h1. Black: rook on a8, knight on b8, bishop on c8, queen on d8, king on e8, bishop on f8, knight on g8, rook on h8, pawn on a7, pawn on b7, pawn on c7, pawn on d7, pawn on f7, pawn on g7, pawn on h7, pawn on d4.
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.
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.