Chess Openings Lab
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Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Krebs

The Reversed Krebs comes after 1.d4 e5 2.Nf3 e4, where Black pushes past the knight and gains space. White must pick a retreat: Nfd2 keeps the c4 and f3 breaks, while Ng1 and Ne5 lose time.

Moves
1.d4 e5 2.Nf3 e4
ECO
A40
Engine
−0.32 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,214 games in our lichess sample
White scores
46.3%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Retreat Nfd2 and play c4 and Nc3, putting pressure on d5 before Black can support it.
  • Prepare f3 later, once developed, to undermine e4 and open the f-file for a rook.
  • Avoid Ne5 followed by f3; Black gets ...f5 and a queen check on h4 along the weakened diagonal.

Black

  • Play ...d5 and ...c6 to build a solid chain from c6 to e4.
  • Develop ...Be7 and ...Nf6, using the e4 pawn to keep White's knights off f3.
  • After cxd5 cxd5, use the open c-file and keep the d5 pawn covered by pieces.

Plans and pawn structure

Black has a French Advance with colors reversed. The e4 pawn cramps White, and Black backs it with ...d5 and ...c6. White fights with c4 and f3, aiming to break the chain. If White trades cxd5 cxd5, the c-file opens and both sides place rooks there. Black wants to keep e4 secure and finish development, then decide whether ...f5 is needed to support the chain.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.32: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for White:

  1. −0.32 3.Nfd2 d5 4.c4 c6 5.Nc3 Be7
  2. −0.46 3.Ng1 d5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Bg5 dxc4
  3. −0.63 3.Ne5 c6 4.f3 f5 5.fxe4 d6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,214 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 46.3%.

under 120038.1%
1200–159945.7%
1600–199948.2%
2000 and up50.4%

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

Where it goes next

How to play against it

For White: retreat with Nfd2 and follow with c4 and Nc3. Don't play Ne5 or Ng1, which lose time and score poorly. Prepare f3 to attack the e4 pawn, but only after the king is safe, since the e1 to h4 diagonal can become a target.

Questions

What are the moves of the Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Krebs?

The Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Krebs starts 1.d4 e5 2.Nf3 e4. Its ECO code is A40.

Is the Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Krebs good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.32 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 1,214 lichess games from our sample, White scored 46.3%. Comfortable for Black; White must play precisely to equalize.

What is the main idea of the Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Krebs?

Black pushes ...e4 to chase the knight and gain space. White should retreat to d2 and play c4, attacking Black's chain.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Nfd2, with Ng1 and Ne5 close behind. Nfd2 keeps the c4 and f3 breaks available against Black's chain.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.