Chess Openings Lab
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Englund Gambit: Hartlaub-Charlick Gambit

The Hartlaub-Charlick Gambit is 1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 d6, where Black offers a second central pawn to open lines for the bishops. White should keep calm with Nf3 and Bg5, while Black hopes for quick development and play along the open d- and f-files.

Moves
1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 d6
ECO
A40
Engine
+1.43 · a clear edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
11,518 games in our lichess sample
White scores
49.9%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Develop Nf3 first so the e5 pawn is supported and the knight covers d4 and g5.
  • Use Bg5, which hits the d8 queen and provokes ...f6, then exf6 keeps material and loosens Black's king.
  • Taking exd6 at once is playable, but Bxd6 gives Black a free developing move toward h2.

Black

  • Develop ...Nc6 and ...Bg4 to pin the f3 knight and add pressure on the e5 pawn.
  • Use ...f6 to block Bg5 and open the f-file, then recapture with the knight on f6.
  • Get the queen active with ...Qf6 when the long diagonal opens, hitting the b2 pawn and f-file.

Plans and pawn structure

Black's idea resembles a reversed Blackmar-Diemer: give material for open lines and quick development. White keeps the extra pawn and develops calmly with Nf3, Bg5, e3 and Nc3. After ...f6 exf6 Nxf6, Black is active but has a weakened e6 square and a pawn less. If White takes exd6 too early, Black's dark-squared bishop comes out with gain of time. Club results are close to level below 2000, so practical care matters.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +1.43: a clear edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +1.43 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bg5 f6 5.exf6 Nxf6
  2. +1.07 3.exd6 Bxd6 4.Nc3 Bd7 5.Nf3 Nf6
  3. +0.92 3.Bf4 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.exd6 Qf6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

11,518 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 49.9%.

under 120050.1%
1200–159948.7%
1600–199949.5%
2000 and up56.2%

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

How to play against it

For White: play Nf3 and develop calmly, using Bg5 to gain time on the queen. Don't grab material with the queen or open the d-file before your pieces are out. Watch for ...Bg4 pins on f3 combined with ...Qf6, which pressure b2 and f3 together.

Questions

What are the moves of the Englund Gambit: Hartlaub-Charlick Gambit?

The Englund Gambit: Hartlaub-Charlick Gambit starts 1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 d6. Its ECO code is A40.

Is the Englund Gambit: Hartlaub-Charlick Gambit good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +1.43 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for White. In 11,518 lichess games from our sample, White scored 49.9%. Objectively dubious for Black, but it scores reasonably at club level because White must know how to develop calmly.

What is the main idea of the Englund Gambit: Hartlaub-Charlick Gambit?

Black offers another pawn to open lines and develop quickly. White develops calmly with Nf3 and Bg5 and keeps a clear edge.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Nf3, with exd6 and Bf4 close behind. Nf3 develops, protects e5, and prepares Bg5 with tempo on the queen.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.