Chess Openings Lab
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Blackmar-Diemer Gambit: Blackmar Gambit

The Blackmar Gambit is 3.f3, striking at e4 at once without first playing Nc3. White hopes for a quick fxe4 and a big center, but Black can hit back with ...e5, trading queens and leaving White's king stuck in the middle.

Moves
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.f3
ECO
D00
Engine
−0.96 · a clear edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
2,098 games in our lichess sample
White scores
52.0%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • If Black answers 3...Nf6, play 4.Nc3 and transpose into the main Blackmar-Diemer lines.
  • After 3...exf3, recapture with 4.Nxf3 and follow with Nc3, Bg5 and Qd2.
  • Against 3...e5, the endgame after the queen trade needs fxe4 and Nf3 to cover the king.
  • Do not lose more time; White's development lags because the f-pawn moved before the knights.

Black

  • Strike with 3...e5. After 4.dxe5 Qxd1+ 5.Kxd1 White has lost castling rights and Black develops with ...Nc6.
  • ...Bg4+ in the engine line checks the exposed king and gains time, while ...O-O-O can follow.
  • 3...Nf6 4.Nc3 is safe too, but it steers into gambit territory White already knows well.
  • ...exf3 also works: take the pawn, develop with ...Nf6 and ...g6, and keep it.

Plans and pawn structure

In the ...e5 line, queens come off early and the game becomes an endgame with White's king on d1. Black wants ...Nc6, ...Bg4 with check and long castling, using the d-file against the king. White needs Nf3, Bd3 or Be2, and a regrouping before the e4 pawn becomes a target. If Black instead plays ...Nf6 or ...exf3, the game turns into a normal Blackmar-Diemer with an extra pawn for Black.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.96: a clear edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.96 3...e5 4.dxe5 Qxd1+ 5.Kxd1 Nc6 6.fxe4
  2. −0.73 3...Nf6 4.Nc3 exf3 5.Nxf3 g6 6.Bg5
  3. −0.68 3...exf3 4.Nxf3 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Bg5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

2,098 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.0%.

under 120048.6%
1200–159952.8%
1600–199954.9%
2000 and up40.4%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

Answer 3.f3 with 3...e5. White's early f-pawn move means the center can be opened before White develops, and the queen trade on d1 removes White's attacking chances. If you prefer gambit lines you already know, 3...Nf6 4.Nc3 is a calm alternative. White scores only 40.4% above 2000 here.

Questions

What are the moves of the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit: Blackmar Gambit?

The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit: Blackmar Gambit starts 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.f3. Its ECO code is D00.

Is the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit: Blackmar Gambit good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.96 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for Black. In 2,098 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.0%. A playable surprise for White at club level, but a prepared opponent reaches a comfortable endgame with ...e5.

What is the main idea of the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit: Blackmar Gambit?

White plays f3 without Nc3, trying to open the f-file and rebuild the center fast. The drawback is that Black can hit d4 with ...e5 and trade queens, so White's king loses castling rights.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is e5, with Nf6 and exf3 close behind. 3...e5 uses the open d-file and White's slow development: after dxe5 the queen trade leaves White's king on d1.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.