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ECO C21WhiteA line in the Danish Gambit

Learn the Danish Gambit Declined: 3...d5 with 4.Qxd4 (alt recapture) line in the Danish Gambit

Against 3...d5 White can develop classically and castle into a sound isolated-pawn middlegame, with the bishop pair-free but active pieces and chances against Black's king.

The moves you’ll play

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.d4exd4
  3. 3.c3d5
  4. 4.exd5Qxd5
  5. 5.cxd4Nf6
  6. 6.Nf3Bb4+
  7. 7.Nc3O-O
  8. 8.Be2Bg4
  9. 9.O-O

The line continues — master it move by move in the app.

Your coach, move by move

  1. 1. e4We open the center to begin the gambit.
  2. 2. d4We hit e5 and offer the Danish.
  3. 3. c3We capture the d-pawn, accepting Black's decline and heading for an open game.
  4. +5 more coached moves waiting in the app

Key ideas behind this line

  • Sacrifice the c3 and b2 pawns to develop quickly: the Bc4 and Bb2 both bear down on f7, g7, and the long light and dark diagonals.
  • Convert the lead in development into a direct attack: castle, swing rooks to the open d- and e-files, and pile pressure on the f7 square.
  • Expect Black's main equalizer, the ...d5 break (often 5...d5), which returns material to neutralize the bishops and steer into the level Schlechter endgame, so play it out accurately.

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More lines in this opening

Danish Gambit Accepted: Main Line, Schlechter Defense (5...d5)

The critical main line: Black returns both pawns with 5...d5 to liquidate into a roughly equal endgame, and White accepts the simplification with a tiny lasting edge in development and bishop activity.

Danish Gambit Accepted: Classical Acceptance (5...Nf6)

Black develops the knight, White advances e5 to gain space and the resulting tactics liquidate material; White emerges with the bishop pair and active play.

Danish Gambit Accepted: 5...Bb4+ Check

Black inserts a check to grab the e4-pawn, but White calmly develops, castles, and recovers the material with a huge lead in development and the bishop pair aimed at Black's king.

Danish Gambit Declined: 3...d5 Center Counter

Black declines the second pawn with 3...d5, returning material to reach an open Goring-like position; White gets a healthy isolated-queen-pawn center with comfortable development.

Danish Gambit Declined: 3...Qe7 Solid Defense

Black grabs e4 with the queen but allows White huge development; the loose black queen will cost tempi while White completes development and seizes the initiative.

Danish Gambit: Goring Transposition (4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bc4)

A Goring-style treatment recapturing with the knight on c3; White keeps a strong initiative with Qb3 and Ng5 hitting f7, typical pressure for one pawn.

Danish Gambit Accepted: 5...Bc5 Defense

Black develops naturally with ...Bc5 and ...d6; White castles, applies pressure with Qb3 and a rook on e1, retaining strong piece activity for the pawn.

Danish Gambit: Half-Accepted (4.Bxd4 line vs 3...Nc6)

Black declines with 3...Nc6 and after the center exchanges White gets the familiar isolated d-pawn position with active pieces and good attacking chances.

Danish Gambit Accepted: 5...Nc6 Defense

Black develops the queenside knight; White castles and uses e5 to gain space, keeping the initiative and the two bishops while Black scrambles to coordinate.

Danish Gambit: Lindehn Gambit Decline (4...d5)

Black returns one pawn with 4...d5 before grabbing the second; White recaptures pieces cleanly and reaches an equal-ish endgame with a slight structural edge and easy play.

Danish Gambit Declined: 3...Ne7 Setup

Black declines with 3...d3, returning the pawn to deaden White's bishop; White recaptures, gets a comfortable Italian-like position with a small space edge and easy development.

Danish Gambit Declined: 3...Qa5 Pin Idea

Black tries a passive ...Qe7/...c6/...d6 hedgehog to hold the extra pawn; White develops smoothly and leaps into d5, regaining initiative against Black's cramped setup.

Danish Gambit Accepted: 7...Bb4+ Endgame (8.Nc3 alternative)

A sharper recapture order in the Schlechter: White interposes Nc3 instead of Qd2; after trades White keeps the dark-squared bishop and a slightly more active endgame.

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