Chess Openings Lab
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

Danish Gambit Declined: Sörensen Defense

The Sörensen Defense declines the Danish with 3...d5, striking at e4 while Black's pawn still sits on d4. White usually takes on d5 or recaptures on d4 with the queen, and Black aims for easy development and early queen trades.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d5
ECO
C21
Engine
−0.17 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
934 games in our lichess sample
White scores
44.3%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 4.exd5 is the engine's top choice. After ...Qxd5, Nf3 and Be2 develop while the queen sits in the center.
  • If Black pushes ...d3, take with the queen and accept a queen trade into a level game.
  • 4.Qxd4 wins the d4 pawn back at once, then exd5 and Bc4 contest the d5 square.
  • Avoid 4.Qa4+, which loses time after ...Nc6 and leaves White worse in the engine line.

Black

  • After 4.exd5, recapture with the queen and pin with ...Bg4 to slow White's development.
  • The pawn push ...d3 trades queens and leaves White with no attack.
  • Against 4.Qxd4, use ...Be6 and ...Nf6 to develop with tempo on the queen.
  • Black's d4 pawn cramps White; keep it as long as it is safe.

Plans and pawn structure

By declining, Black avoids all of White's gambit attacks. The center opens, and both queens come out early. White wants to win d4 back with Nf3 or Qxd4 and develop with Bc4 or Be2. Black aims for ...Nf6, ...Bg4 and ...Nc6 and is happy to trade queens with ...d3. The resulting middlegames and endings are simple and roughly equal, with Black often more active.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.17: level. Its three top choices for White:

  1. −0.17 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Be2 d3
  2. −0.36 4.Qxd4 Be6 5.exd5 Bxd5 6.Bc4 Nf6
  3. −0.81 4.Qa4+ Nc6 5.Bb5 Ne7 6.Nf3 dxe4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

934 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 44.3%.

under 120034.5%
1200–159942.1%
1600–199944.0%
2000 and up48.4%

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

How to play against it

As White, keep it simple: 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Nf3 and develop. Do not chase the queen around or try to keep gambit chances alive. White scored under 50% in our sample, so the goal is a solid, equal game with easy development.

Questions

What are the moves of the Danish Gambit Declined: Sörensen Defense?

The Danish Gambit Declined: Sörensen Defense starts 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d5. Its ECO code is C21.

Is the Danish Gambit Declined: Sörensen Defense good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.17 at depth 20, which is level. In 934 lichess games from our sample, White scored 44.3%. An excellent practical antidote for Black players who want to avoid Danish theory; White should aim for equality rather than an attack.

What is the main idea of the Danish Gambit Declined: Sörensen Defense?

Black ignores the c3 pawn and strikes back with ...d5. That opens the center while Black's d4 pawn still cramps White, and Black reaches easy development and often an early queen trade.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is exd5, with Qxd4 and Qa4+ close behind. 4.exd5 removes Black's center pawn and, after ...Qxd5, White develops with Nf3 while the black queen is exposed.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.