Chess Openings Lab
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Englund Gambit Declined

The Englund Gambit Declined with 2.d5 sidesteps the pawn offer by pushing past e5 and locking the center. White gains space on the queenside, while Black develops freely with ...Bc5 or ...Nf6 and plans a kingside break with ...f5.

Moves
1.d4 e5 2.d5
ECO
A40
Engine
−0.25 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
18,177 games in our lichess sample
White scores
50.3%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Follow up with e4, building a d5-e4 chain that cramps Black's c8 bishop and gives queenside space.
  • Develop Bd3, Ne2 and O-O, keeping f2 covered against a bishop on c5.
  • Prepare c4 and Nc3 to support d5 and later push c5 to open lines on the queenside.

Black

  • Put the bishop on c5 early, where it is outside the pawn chain and eyes f2.
  • Play ...d6 to lock the center, then reroute a knight via e7 to g6 or play ...Nf6.
  • Break with ...f5 on the kingside, the natural lever against White's e4 pawn.

Plans and pawn structure

The locked center of d5 and e4 against d6 and e5 sets the plans, like a King's Indian with colors reversed. White expands on the queenside with c4, c5 and sometimes b4. Black plays on the kingside with ...f5 and piece pressure on f2 and the king. The d5 push gives up the d4 square, but Black's bishop on c5 is the more active piece.

Where the engine's main line heads: Locked center: d5–e4 against d6–e5. A locked center: White's d5 and e4 against Black's d6 and e5. The game moves to the wings, where each side attacks where its pawns point.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.25: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.25 2...Bc5 3.e4 Ne7 4.Bd3 d6 5.Ne2
  2. −0.22 2...Nf6 3.a3 Bc5 4.e3 d6 5.c4
  3. −0.21 2...Bb4+ 3.Bd2 a5 4.a3 Bc5 5.e4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

18,177 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.3%.

under 120051.6%
1200–159950.7%
1600–199949.6%
2000 and up45.2%

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

Where it goes next

  • Diemer Counterattack2...Bc5 · rare

How to play against it

For Black: develop the f8 bishop to c5 or b4 before playing ...d6, so it stays outside the pawn chain. Then play ...d6, ...Nf6 or ...Ne7, and aim for ...f5. Avoid trading your bishop for a white knight without reason; it is your best piece.

Questions

What are the moves of the Englund Gambit Declined?

The Englund Gambit Declined starts 1.d4 e5 2.d5. Its ECO code is A40.

Is the Englund Gambit Declined good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.25 at depth 20, which is level. In 18,177 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.3%. Solid but less testing for White; Black gets an active bishop and easy development.

What is the main idea of the Englund Gambit Declined?

White declines by locking the center with d5. Black puts the bishop outside the chain and plays for ...f5.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Bc5, with Nf6 and Bb4+ close behind. ...Bc5 gets the bishop outside the chain before ...d6 locks it in.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.