Chess Openings Lab
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

Englund Gambit: Soller Gambit

The Soller Gambit is 1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 f6, where Black hits the e5 pawn with the f-pawn on move two. It is dubious: White can play e4 with Bc4 and Ng5 against the weakened light squares, or answer ...fxe5 with Nf3 and Nxe5 to stay a pawn up.

Moves
1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 f6
ECO
A40
Engine
+1.68 · a large advantage for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
2,714 games in our lichess sample
White scores
55.2%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play e4 and Nf3, then Bc4 and Ng5, aiming at the e6 square and the f7 pawn.
  • Develop Nf3 first; if ...fxe5, recapture Nxe5 with a healthy extra pawn and a centralized knight.
  • Use Bf4 and later Bxe5 to win the pawn back with a bishop instead of a knight.

Black

  • Recapture ...fxe5 and use the half-open f-file for the rook after castling.
  • Develop ...Nc6, ...Nf6 and ...Bc5 quickly, aiming the bishop at the f2 square.
  • Push ...d5 to build a central duo and limit the g2 bishop in the Nf3 and g3 lines.

Plans and pawn structure

White has two good plans. With e4, Bc4 and Ng5, White targets the light squares that ...f6 weakened. With Nf3 and Nxe5, White keeps the extra pawn and plays g3 and Bg2 against Black's center. Black needs fast development and central play with ...d5 and ...Bd6. Because the c6 knight is not yet committed, Black has slightly more freedom than in the deferred version, but the light-square weakness is the same.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +1.68: a large advantage for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +1.68 3.e4 Nc6 4.Nf3 fxe5 5.Bc4 Nf6
  2. +1.52 3.Nf3 fxe5 4.Nxe5 Nf6 5.g3 d5
  3. +1.34 3.Bf4 fxe5 4.Bxe5 Nc6 5.Bg3 Nf6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

2,714 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 55.2%.

under 120058.1%
1200–159953.5%
1600–199955.2%
2000 and up54.7%

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

How to play against it

For White: play e4 or Nf3 and develop quickly. Don't let Black build ...d5 and ...Bc5 for free while your pieces sit at home. Target e6 and f7 with Bc4 and Ng5 whenever the knight can land safely. A pawn up with the safer king, you can afford to trade pieces.

Questions

What are the moves of the Englund Gambit: Soller Gambit?

The Englund Gambit: Soller Gambit starts 1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 f6. Its ECO code is A40.

Is the Englund Gambit: Soller Gambit good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +1.68 at depth 20, which is a large advantage for White. In 2,714 lichess games from our sample, White scored 55.2%. Dubious for Black; it suits players who like sharp, open positions and accept objective risk.

What is the main idea of the Englund Gambit: Soller Gambit?

Black uses the f-pawn to challenge e5, opening lines but weakening the light squares. White takes advantage with e4, Bc4 and Ng5, or simply Nf3 and Nxe5.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is e4, with Nf3 and Bf4 close behind. e4 opens the f1 bishop's diagonal toward the weak light squares.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.