Don Chess

Learn the Danish Gambit

Two pawns gone – and in return two bishops that aim at the king like lasers. White’s wildest gambit.

You play with White. 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.

Train the Danish Gambit now →

The main line

1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 d5 6.Bxd5 Nf6 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qxd8

C21 · Danish Gambit Accepted: Schlechter Defense

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.e4 Occupies the centre with a pawn on e4.
  2. 1…e5 Occupies the centre with a pawn on e5.
  3. 2.d4 Attacks the pawn on e5 – the fight for the centre begins.
  4. 2…exd4 Takes the pawn on d4.
  5. 3.c3 Attacks the pawn on d4 – the fight for the centre begins.
  6. 3…dxc3 Takes the pawn on c3.
  7. 4.Bc4 Develops the bishop to c4 – pieces out first, then attack.
  8. 4…cxb2 Takes the pawn on b2.
  9. 5.Bxb2 Takes back on b2 – material is level again.
  10. 5…d5 Attacks the pawn on e4 – the fight for the centre begins.
  11. 6.Bxd5 Takes the pawn on d5.
  12. 6…Nf6 Develops the knight to f6 – pieces out first, then attack.
  13. 7.Bxf7+ Check! The opponent has to react at once.
  14. 7…Kxf7 Takes back on f7 – material is level again.
  15. 8.Qxd8 Takes the queen on d8.

Idea and plans

The idea

White opens the centre at once with 2.d4. In the Center Game the queen recaptures; in the Danish White gives pawns for development.

Plan for White

Fast development and an attack on f7, long castling in the Center Game.

Plan for Black

Develop with tempo against the queen (…Nc6), or in the gambit return material with …d5 and equalise.

The 3 lines in the course

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

Train the Danish Gambit now →

More openings