Chess Openings Lab
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Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Mokele Mbembe

The Reversed Mokele Mbembe is 1.d4 e5 2.Nf3 e4 3.Ne5, where White plants the knight on e5 instead of retreating. Black wants to kick it with ...d6 or ...f6, or support e4 with ...d5, while White tries to keep it there with e3 and f4.

Moves
1.d4 e5 2.Nf3 e4 3.Ne5
ECO
A40
Engine
−0.60 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
399 games in our lichess sample
White scores
40.5%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Support the knight with e3 and f4, forming a Stonewall on d4, e3 and f4.
  • If kicked by ...d6, reroute through c4 to e3, where the knight eyes d5 and f5.
  • Use f3 to break Black's e4 pawn, but only after checking the e1 to h4 diagonal.

Black

  • Play ...d6 to kick the knight at once, so it must spend another move finding a square.
  • Use ...d5 and ...Bf5 to build a strong center and develop quickly, then ...f6 to evict the knight.
  • Against f3, play ...d6 and trade with ...Bxg4 when the knight goes to g4.

Plans and pawn structure

White's knight on e5 is impressive but has no pawn support, so Black can attack it with ...d6 or ...f6 and gain time. In the Stonewall lines with e3 and f4, White keeps a grip on e5 but the c1 bishop stays shut in and Black develops freely with ...Bf5 and ...Nh6. When the knight wanders to c4 and e3, Black uses the time for ...f5 and central space. Black's results in this line are good.

Where the engine's main line heads: White Stonewall: pawns d4, e3, f4. White's Stonewall: pawns on d4, e3 and f4 with c3. Solid in the center, with a strong knight on e5.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.60: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.60 3...d5 4.e3 Bf5 5.f4 Nh6 6.Be2
  2. −0.55 3...d6 4.Nc4 d5 5.Ne3 f5 6.c4
  3. −0.52 3...c6 4.f3 d6 5.Ng4 Bxg4 6.fxg4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

399 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 40.5%.

under 120035.5%
1200–159943.6%
1600–199941.1%

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

How to play against it

For Black: kick the knight with ...d6 or support e4 with ...d5 and develop. Don't let White build a Stonewall with e3 and f4 for free; challenge e5 with ...f6 when ready. Avoid grabbing material if it means falling behind in development.

Questions

What are the moves of the Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Mokele Mbembe?

The Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Mokele Mbembe starts 1.d4 e5 2.Nf3 e4 3.Ne5. Its ECO code is A40.

Is the Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Mokele Mbembe good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.60 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 399 lichess games from our sample, White scored 40.5%. Comfortable for Black; White's knight tour costs too much time.

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

White puts the knight on e5 instead of retreating. Black kicks it with ...d6 or ...f6, or supports e4 with ...d5, and gets an easy game.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is d5, with d6 and c6 close behind. ...d5 supports e4 and prepares ...Bf5 with quick development.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.