Don Chess

Learn the Albin Countergambit

The countergambit against the Queen’s Gambit: …e5 and suddenly a black pawn sits deep in White’s camp. Notorious for the Lasker Trap.

You play with Black. How you learn it with Don Chess: watch first, then play it with an arrow, then from memory – with spaced repetition until it sticks. Free, no sign-up.

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The main line

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.g3 Be6 6.Nbd2 Qd7

D09 · Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit, Fianchetto Variation, Be6 Line

The position after the main line

The moves explained

Why is each move played? The explanations come from the opening trainer – there you play the moves yourself afterwards.

  1. 1.d4 Occupies the centre with a pawn on d4.
  2. 1…d5 Occupies the centre with a pawn on d5.
  3. 2.c4 Gambit: the pawn on c4 is offered – for quick development and open lines.
  4. 2…e5 Gambit: the pawn on e5 is offered – for quick development and open lines.
  5. 3.dxe5 Accepts the pawn offered on e5.
  6. 3…d4 Occupies the centre with a pawn on d4.
  7. 4.Nf3 Develops the knight to f3 – pieces out first, then attack.
  8. 4…Nc6 Develops the knight to c6 – pieces out first, then attack.
  9. 5.g3 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop goes to the long diagonal.
  10. 5…Be6 Develops the bishop to e6 – pieces out first, then attack.
  11. 6.Nbd2 Develops the knight to d2 – pieces out first, then attack.
  12. 6…Qd7 The queen comes to d7 and puts on pressure.

Idea and plans

Black answers the Queen’s Gambit with a gambit of its own – the pawn on d4 becomes a thorn in White’s side. With a famous underpromotion trap!

The 3 lines in the course

Grey: the moves shared with the main line. Bold: the move where the line leaves it.

Train the Albin Countergambit now →

More openings