Chess Openings Lab
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Danish Gambit Accepted

The Danish Gambit Accepted is 3...dxc3, where Black takes the c3 pawn White offered after 2...exd4. White can recapture with 4.Nxc3 for a one-pawn gambit or offer a second pawn with 4.Bc4, aiming for fast development and two bishops against f7 and g7.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3
ECO
C21
Engine
−0.34 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
9,530 games in our lichess sample
White scores
56.8%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 4.Nxc3 gives one pawn for quick development with Bc4, Nf3 and short castling, as in the engine line.
  • 4.Bc4 offers the b2 pawn. After ...cxb2 and Bxb2, both bishops rake the kingside.
  • Aim for e5 or Ng5 ideas once the bishops point at f7 and g7.
  • 4.Nf3 also lets Black take on b2, but costs White time compared with the bishop move.

Black

  • Against 4.Nxc3, develop with ...Bc5, ...d6, ...Nc6 and ...Nge7, then castle short before White's pieces reach the kingside.
  • If White offers the second pawn, ...cxb2 is fine as long as Black follows with ...Bb4+, ...Nf6 or ...d5.
  • ...d6 and ...Nc6 cover e5 and d5, so White's knights and the e-pawn have fewer entry points.
  • Return material with ...d5 when it buys safe castling or trades off one of White's bishops.

Plans and pawn structure

The Danish is about development versus material. With 4.Nxc3, White is one pawn down and plays like a Scotch Gambit with Bc4, Nf3 and short castling, while Black builds with ...Bc5, ...d6 and ...Nge7. With 4.Bc4 and the second pawn, White's bishops on c4 and b2 target f7 and g7 and the game gets sharp. Black's antidote is the same in both cases: castle, keep f7 covered, and give a pawn back with ...d5 when it helps.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.34: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for White:

  1. −0.34 4.Nxc3 Bc5 5.Bc4 d6 6.Nf3 Nc6
  2. −0.75 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 Bb4+ 6.Nc3 Nf6
  3. −0.92 4.Nf3 cxb2 5.Bxb2 Nf6 6.Nc3 d6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

9,530 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 56.8%.

under 120053.4%
1200–159956.7%
1600–199957.9%
2000 and up54.2%

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

Where it goes next

How to play against it

As White, pick one gambit and know its follow-up. 4.Nxc3 keeps the game simpler and closer to balance. With 4.Bc4, play fast and do not allow ...d5 with tempo. White scored well overall in our sample, so the practical chances are good.

Questions

What are the moves of the Danish Gambit Accepted?

The Danish Gambit Accepted starts 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3. Its ECO code is C21.

Is the Danish Gambit Accepted good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.34 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 9,530 lichess games from our sample, White scored 56.8%. Great practical fun for attacking White players; Black should know one solid setup and when to return material.

What is the main idea of the Danish Gambit Accepted?

Black takes the offered pawn and White decides how much to gamble. A one-pawn gambit with Nxc3 is solid, while Bc4 and a second pawn give the famous two-bishop attack against f7 and g7.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Nxc3, with Bc4 and Nf3 close behind. 4.Nxc3 recaptures with a developing move and keeps the deficit at one pawn, the most balanced way to continue.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.