Chess Openings Lab
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Slav Defense: Diemer Gambit

The Slav Diemer Gambit is 3.e4, a pawn offer that tries to blow open the center before Black has developed. Black should take with 3...dxe4 and hit back with ...e5, while White hopes for fast development and attacking chances.

Moves
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e4
ECO
D10
Engine
−0.67 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
465 games in our lichess sample
White scores
46.7%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After 3...dxe4, play 4.Nc3 to win back e4 with the knight if Black is careless.
  • Against ...e5, the line 5.Be3 exd4 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Bxd4 leads to a queenless game where White is slightly worse.
  • If Black plays 3...e6, 4.Nc3 leads to normal lines where White is fine.
  • Use f3 to reopen lines only if your development is already ahead.

Black

  • 3...dxe4 grabs the pawn; after 4.Nc3, strike back at once with 4...e5.
  • ...exd4 and the queen trade leave Black comfortable, with White's c4 pawn a target.
  • Develop with ...Nf6 and ...Bf5 to protect the extra pawn on e4.
  • Do not play passively: ...e5 is the move that refutes White's idea.

Plans and pawn structure

This is a dubious gambit: Black's best reply leaves White worse. After 3...dxe4 4.Nc3 e5, Black opens lines while White's pieces are not ready. The queen trade on d4 leads to an endgame where Black has easy development and White's c4 pawn can be a weakness. White's main hope is that Black plays slowly and lets White recover e4 with a lead in development.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.67: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.67 3...dxe4 4.Nc3 e5 5.Be3 exd4 6.Qxd4
  2. +0.36 3...e6 4.Nc3 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Nf6 6.Nxf6+
  3. +0.49 3...a6 4.e5 e6 5.Nc3 c5 6.cxd5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

465 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 46.7%.

under 120047.3%
1200–159944.8%
1600–199946.9%
2000 and up48.2%

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

How to play against it

As Black, take on e4 and play ...e5 next. After the queen trade, develop with ...Nf6, ...Be6 and ...Nbd7, and aim at the c4 pawn. Avoid passive ...e6 setups that let White recover the pawn comfortably. Trade queens when offered; the ending favors you.

Questions

What are the moves of the Slav Defense: Diemer Gambit?

The Slav Defense: Diemer Gambit starts 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e4. Its ECO code is D10.

Is the Slav Defense: Diemer Gambit good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.67 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 465 lichess games from our sample, White scored 46.7%. A risky surprise weapon for White; Black players who know ...dxe4 and ...e5 get the better game.

What is the main idea of the Slav Defense: Diemer Gambit?

White sacrifices the e-pawn to open the center quickly. Black takes and hits back with ...e5, reaching a comfortable position where White's early aggression backfires.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is dxe4, with e6 and a6 close behind. 3...dxe4 takes the pawn, and after 4.Nc3 e5 Black hits the center hard.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.