Elephant Gambit (Queen's Pawn Counter-gambit) - C40

Unleash the Beast:
 Mastering the Elephant Gambit 

Dive into the wild world of the Elephant Gambit, a daring chess opening that can surprise your opponents and lead to exciting tactical battles.

 This post curates free resources to help you master both sides of the gambit, from articles and video lessons to annotated games. Let's trample the center and unleash your inner chess beast!

 Elephant Gambit Wikipedia Page

The Elephant Gambit
 (also called the Queen's Pawn Countergambit or Englund Counterattack) 

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5!?

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Elephant Gambit Chess Articles

• The Ultimate Elephant Gambit Opening Guide for Attacking Players - Chessable Blog Guide: This guide offers an overview of the Elephant Gambit, exploring its variations, key themes, and illustrative games featuring Grandmasters.
  
  
• Elephant Gambit | The Refutation - Chessmood Article by GM Avetik Grigoryan (Pretty In-depth) Dive deep into the refutation of the Elephant Gambit. This article delves into the history of the opening, explores key theoretical lines, and presents a clear approach to gaining a significant advantage against the gambit. GM Grigoryan emphasizes logical moves for easy memorization.

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Elephant Gambit LiChess Studies

New to Lichess studies? These interactive tools are fantastic resources for exploring the Elephant Gambit's intricacies move-by-move. They allow you to test your understanding and solidify your knowledge:

• The Elephant Gambit -  4 Chapter Study (Top of Page): This basic 4-chapter study provides a solid introduction, showcasing a few key lines in detail.
  
  
• Elephant Gambit | Wasp Variation - 18 Chapter Interactive Study: Delve deeper with this interactive study featuring 18 chapters exploring various lines within the Wasp Variation. Test yourself with built-in exercises!
  
  
• Elephant Gambit - (Queen Pawn Counter Gambit) - 12 Chapter Study - This comprehensive 12-chapter study offers a thorough exploration of different opening variations. It dives into refutation strategies with 2 lines and even includes illustrative games by Grandmasters!

Deepen Your Chess Knowledge with LiChess Studies!

The interactive Elephant Gambit studies showcased here are just a taste of what LiChess studies offer. Take your chess learning to the next level! This page provides a comprehensive overview of what studies are, how they work, and how you can leverage them to improve your chess: Study chess, the lichess way

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Tactics and Puzzles

Sharpen your tactical vision and exploit hidden opportunities in the Elephant Gambit with these resources:

LiChess Opening Tactics

• Lichess Elephant Gambit Tactics  - 2693 Tactics - Test your skills against a massive database of Elephant Gambit puzzles, specifically tailored to this opening.

WTHarvey.com

•  King's Knight Opening (ECO C40) - 25 Puzzles - Since the Elephant Gambit falls under the King's Knight Opening (ECO C40), these puzzles provide a broader range of tactical exercises relevant to the opening's themes.

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Online Databases

Delve into a wealth of Elephant Gambit games played by chess players of various levels on these online databases:

365Chess.com

C40: QP counter-gambit (elephant gambit) 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 - 1075 Games

Chessgames.com  (Collections)

• 98_C40_Elephant Gambit - 42 Games
• Elephant Gambit 3.d4 black wins - 3 Games
• Elephant Gambit Miniatures - 7 Games
• Elephant Gambit Games - 43 games

ChessTempo.com

Elephant Gambit, General (C40) - 1600 games

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Elephant Gambit Video Lessons

Here's a curated selection of video lessons to enhance your understanding of the Elephant Gambit, both for Black and White:

Watch Out for The Elephant Gambit! | Chess Openings Explained - 57 Min - St. Louis Chess Club - Lecture - Nick Risko teaches all about the Elephant Gambit, a rare opening starting with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5!?

Tal vs Lutikov, 1964 | Elephant Gambit - GM Yasser Seirawan - 49 Min - St.Louis Chess Club - Immerse yourself in a classic Elephant Gambit game featuring the legendary Mikhail Tal, known for his aggressive and tactical style. GM Yasser Seirawan provides insightful analysis, allowing you to witness Tal's mastery firsthand.

The Elephant Gambit | Queen's Pawn Countergambit | Chess Openings | Gambits | IM Andrey Ostrovskiy - 14 Min - Opening Guide - Gain a quick overview of the Elephant Gambit's essential ideas and strategic themes

IM Miodrag Perunovic:

 Learn how to wield the Elephant Gambit as Black with these beginner-friendly video lessons. Part 1 dives into the main variations, anti-Elephant Gambit strategies, and model games, while Part 2 explores various responses to the gambit and showcases illustrative games by grandmasters.

• Chess For Beginners: The Mighty Elephant Gambit for Black!! Part 1 - 25 Min
• Chess For Beginners: The Mighty Elephant Gambit for Black!! Part 2 - 25 min 

Tricky Elephant Gambit Repertoire - 6 Video playlist- GJ_Chess - Delve deeper with a series of videos exploring various tricky lines and strategic nuances within the Elephant Gambit repertoire, expanding your Black opening options.

Wasp Variation

Surprisingly Tricky, Extremely Fun - The Wasp Variation of the Elephant Gambit! - 12 Min - NM Nelson Lopez: Explore the exciting and dynamic possibilities of the Wasp Variation, a popular line within the Elephant Gambit.

Refuting the Elephant Gambit Videos

Destroy The Elephant Gambit in Two Easy Ways!! - 8 Min - IM Miodrag Perunovic -Discover two effective strategies to neutralize the Elephant Gambit's threat and gain an advantage as White.

Elephant Gambit | The Refutation - Daily Lesson with a Grandmaster #75 - 30 Min - Chess Mood - The Elephant Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5?!) is a very aggressive opening for Black, but White can refute it in different ways. Various refutations of the Elephant Gambit, providing a deeper understanding of how to handle it as White.

The Elephant Gambit (And how to beat it every time.) - 16 Min - Hanging Pawns

Elephant Gambit Game Videos (w/Analysis)

The Elephant Gambit - 31 Video Playlist - Kingscrusher

Learn the Elephant Gambit Under the Trunk of a Grandmaster - 58 Min - GM Nakamura 
An Amazing Elephant Gambit Miniature | Max Lange vs Richard Schurig: Berlin 1855 - 3 Min
Elephant Gambit: Masseg vs Freidl - Austria 1987 - 3 Min

Johnathan Schrantz

• Win with the MOST COMMON Elephant Gambit Trap - 7 Min
• Trick Everyone with the ELEPHANT GAMBIT - 13 Min
• Scare Everyone with the ELEPHANT GAMBIT - 19 Min
• I Tried Playing the ELEPHANT GAMBIT in Rapid Chess - 19 Min
• Beating an IM in 9 Moves with the ELEPHANT GAMBIT - 2 Min
• Holy Gambit Grail #10: Elephant Gambit - 13 Min
• Always Accept this Gambit - 12 Min
• Can a GRANDMASTER Refute My Elephant Gambit? - 9 Min
• This Opening is an INFINITE RATING GLITCH - 8 Min

“It’s always better to sacrifice your opponent’s men.”
– Savielly Tartakower

Sharp & Aggressive: Mastering the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit (D00)

 

The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit
 A Sacrificial Dance for Aggressive Players

Why Play the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit?

The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit (BDG) is a dynamic chess opening known for its unorthodox pawn sacrifice on move two (1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4!). This gambit appeals to both new and experienced players for several reasons:

• New Players:
  • Exciting and Unpredictable: The BDG throws your opponent off-balance, offering a chance to surprise them with an unfamiliar position.
  • Fast Development: The pawn sacrifice opens lines and allows for rapid development of your pieces, leading to a quick attack.
  • Learn Tactical Motifs: The BDG is rich in tactical opportunities, helping you develop your tactical vision and calculation skills.
• Experienced Players:
  • Sharp and Aggressive Play: The BDG offers a chance to play for a win with an imbalanced position, appealing to aggressive players.
  • Test Your Opponent's Opening Knowledge: Many players are unfamiliar with the BDG, allowing you to potentially gain an early advantage.
  • Deep Strategic Ideas: While appearing reckless, the BDG has underlying strategic concepts like piece activity and central control to explore.

Whether you're a new player seeking excitement or an experienced player looking to sharpen your attacking skills, the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit offers a unique and rewarding path to victory.

 BDG Wikipedia Page 

Nice Wikipedia Page on the Main Variations.

 

It is one of the few gambits available to White after 1.d4

 

Main Line

After 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3, 

Black has five main options:

Gunderam Defence: 5...Bf5 

Teichmann Defence: 5...Bg4 
Euwe Defence: 5...e6
Bogoljubov Defence: 5...g6 
Ziegler Defence: 5...c6 

also 
Ryder Gambit: 5.Qxf3

 

Black's Options: It's important to note that Black has several ways to decline the gambit on move two (2...e6 or 2...c6), leading to more solid openings like the French Defense or Caro-Kann Defense. 

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Books (Courses) Free

 

• A beginner's blitz repertoire - FREE Chessable Course - 53 Trainable Variations - The core of the repertoire is a set of interpretations of the Blackmar-Diemer gambit - but more often than not castling queenside, rather than kingside.
  

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Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Articles

Delve into the theory, history, and key variations of the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit.

 

• Blackmar-Diemer Gambit - Article on Gambiter Blog - History with a short Synopsis of all of the Variations.
  
  
• Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Declined - Vienna Defence 4...Bf5 [D00] - Chess Publishing Article on this Line.
  
  
• Ryder Gambit: An Aggressive Chess Opening Guide - Chess journal Article - Extensive Guide. How to play, How to play Against, Pawn structures, tricks and traps w/ several example games.
  
  
• Mission: Checkmate! the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit - FM Eric Schiller - Chess.com Article w/ 5 example games.

BDG Blogs

• Blackmar Diemer Gambit -  Blog with over 200 Posts Specifically on this Gambit 
• Tom's BDG Pages   - Another Old Blog with Over 200 posts on this Gambit. (From the Creator of the BDG World magazine)
• Play Chess Openings - Tim Sawyer Blog  - This Link is to page with 53 BDG Posts

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LiChess Studies

Explore interactive training tools to solidify your understanding of the opening's concepts.

•  BLACKMAR-DIEMER GAMBIT  -  12 Chapter Study - (282 hearts) (Top of page) - Different Variations w/ Caro and French Transpositions.
  
  
• Blackmar-Diemer Gambit (In Progress)  - 44 Chapter Study (65 hearts)  Looks at all of Blacks Defenses.
  
  

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Games Databases

Analyze real-life games featuring the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit and see how it's played in practice.

  

365Chess.com

• D00: Blackmar-Diemer gambit 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. e4 - 1274 Games
• A45: Blackmar-Diemer gambit 1. d4 Nf6 2. f3 d5 3. e4     - 191 Games

Chessgames.com

• Blackmar Diemer Gambits  - 8 Games (All 1-0)

Chess Tempo

• Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, General (D00)  -  Over 170,000 Games (2200+ Rating with Popularity Graph)
• Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, Gedult Gambit (D00) -  1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. f3   (400+ Games)
• Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, Von Popiel Gambit (D00) - 1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5  (5100+ Games)

 

Extra Games

• Chess_Olympiads_1990_till_2012 - 9 Games Played 

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 LiChess Puzzles (Tactics)

Test your tactical skills with puzzles specifically designed for the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit.

• BLACKMAR DIEMER GAMBIT - 2846 Puzzles
• von Popiel Gambit - 193 Puzzles

 

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Blackmar Diemer Gambit Videos

FREE ELO With The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit  - 25 Min Video - Gotham Chess - The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, a great aggressive chess opening for beginners and intermediate players. Very tricky and full of tactics. Theory w/ 2 games analyzed.


GM Boris Alderman

• Alterman GGuide Blackmar Diemer gambit part1 - 28 Min
• Alterman GGuide Blackmar Diemer gambit part2 - 24 Min
• Alterman GGuide Blackmar Diemer gambit part3 - 27 Min

Most Aggressive Chess Opening for White | Powerful Gambit - 11 Min - GM Igor Smirnov - You will learn about the Halosar Trap which happens after the following moves: 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Qf3. This variation is so aggressive that Black can get checkmate in just about 10 moves.
Brilliant Blackmar-Diemer Gambit | Journey to GM #5 | GM Moulthun Ly - 9 Min - One of my favorite attacking game I played with this unusual Gambit.

Blackmar–Diemer Gambit: Openings Explorations - 13 Min - NM Bryan Tillis - We investigate a game in the Blackmar–Diemer Gambit.
Opening Basics #40: Blackmar-Diemer gambit - 43 Min - Jim's Chess Channel - Video explains the gambit’s origins, key moves, and strategic ideas w/ some game examples.

The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit · Chess Openings - 34 Min - Hanging Pawns - Nice Guide w/ Basics, plans ideas and lines .

How to refute the Blackmar Diemer Gambit  - 15 min - Robert Plunkett's Chess Lab - A simple refutation to the Blackmar Diemer gambit and why the Blackmar Diemer Gambit is unsound.

Traps

• Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Opening Trap - Sacrifice Queen - Checkmate in 7 moves - Chess Opening Tricks - 3 Min - NM Nelson Lopez
  
  
•  Amazing Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Tricks | Tricks, Traps And Blunders - 7 Min - Chess School
  
  
• Chess Opening Traps #5: Halosar Opening Trap - Blackmar–Diemer Gambit - 15 Min - kingscrusher

Ryder Gambit (DBL Pawn Sacrifice)

•  GM Ben Finegold's Gambit Series: The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit - 7 Min - Introduces the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, specifically the Ryder Gambit, in this video. He explains the move sequences, strategies, and potential traps for both white and black players.
  
  
• Kill with 1.d4 | The Unorthodox Ryder Gambit!! - 22 Min - IM Modrag Perunovic -  Explores the Ryder Gambit, an unorthodox opening in chess that begins with 1.d4. detailed analysis and examples of how to play this gambit effectively, especially against opponents who are not well-versed in theory or prefer positional play.
  
  
• Ryder Gambit - Chess Opening - 14 Min - theChessWebsite -  It covers various responses and strategies for both white and black.
  
  
• Unbelievable Traps in the Ryder Gambit! Fire Upon Fire! - 15 min - Kaspachess - some of the most interesting traps you may use in the queen's pawn opening after 1. d4 d5. The gambit in discussion is called the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Accepted: Ryder Gambit.
  
  

von Popiel Gambit  (A New Twist on the Blackmar-Diemer )

 Von Popiel Gambit!! Playlist   - 7 Video Playlist - FM William Graif

• Win every time as White with the VON POPIEL GAMBIT!! - 32 Min - FM William Graif - An improvement on the Blackmar-Diemer that you can get every time with White! And it's not just traps -- the opening is very dangerous on the whole
• Universal & Aggressive Chess Opening for White | Powerful Gambit - 17 Min - GM Igor Smirnov
  
  
• The NEW Blackmar-Diemer Gambit?  - 24 Min - Johnathan Schrantz - Learn the von Popiel Gambit which is a little know variation of Blackmar-Diemer Gambit that is quickly becoming popular.
• The von Popiel Gambit Trap Nobody Knows About - 6 Min - Johnathan Schrantz

Blackmmar - Diemer Gambit Game Videos (W/Analysis)

• 2 PERFECT Von Popiel Gambit wins in Titled Tuesday - 19 Min - FM William Graif
  
  
• Blitz Game #23 Chess Opening: Blackmar-Diemer Gambit (Black) - 6 Min - IM Miodrag Perunovic
  
  
• Blackmar-Diemer Gambit: Nazarenus vs Besson-Switzerland 2004 - 5 Min - Chess School
  
  
• All Out Attack Using Blackmar-Diemer Gambit - 7 Min - Chess School
  
  
• Master Class | Blackmar–Diemer Gambit | Chess Speedrun | Grandmaster Naroditsky - 24 Min

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Anti- London - Chess Opening Theory

 Conquer the London System:
Learn Powerful Anti-London Strategies!

Do you struggle against the ever-popular 1.d4 London System opening?

Feeling lost in a sea of white pawns?
Dive into free Chessable courses packed with actionable lines, explore insightful articles that expose the London System's weaknesses, and train your tactical vision with interactive studies.
 Gain invaluable insights from top chess instructors through video masterclasses,
 and witness practical applications in analyzed games.

  Fret no more! This page is your one-stop shop for everything Anti-London System.

 We've curated a comprehensive collection of resources designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools to dismantle the London System and emerge victorious.

Books (Courses) (FREE)

 

Agadmator's Anti-London System  -  Free Chessable Course -  40 Trainable Variations

Short & Sweet: Anti-London System - Free Chessable Course - 18 Trainable Lines w/ 48 min Video - FM Viktor Neustroev (2252 FIDE)

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Anti-London Articles

 

The Anti-Anti-London System  - FM Ingvar Thor Johannesson  - Like the Title says, Chess.com Article about how to bust many of the Anti-Londons Played. Especially Agadmantor's. 
(Pretty Interesting and worth a read, some tricky lines played by white that can give you a really bad position out of the gate if you just blindly play some of these Anti-Londons)

Tricky Chess Opening Against the London System – Every Move Is A TRAP! - Remote Chess Academy Article - GM Igor Smirnov   

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Anti-London LiChess Studies

 

Gothamchess: Beat (Agadmator's) Anti-London  -  11 Chapter Study (The Anti-Anti-London)
ANTI⚔️ LONDON👌 GAMBIT🔥 - 23 Chapter Study - Black makes a  Crazy 3... g5 Gambit.
Anti-London | Crazy Knight Attack  - 16 Chapter Study  (1800 Hearts)
Anti-London System Lines  - 9 Chapter Study  (Study at Top of Page)

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Anti-London Videos

Anti-London

Beat the London System! - 62 Min - ChessGoals - Beat the London system for Nimzo-Indian and Queen's Indian Defense players! If you like to play e6, this is the course for you. (New - 5/29/24)

Want To Crush The London System?  - 32 min - Gotham Chess

3 Secret Rare Lines to Beat the London System  - 17 Min - Johnathan Schrantz

How to beat the London System at any level  - 14 Min - IM Alex Banzea

The ABSOLUTE BEST Way to Beat the London for Nf6 Players - 25 Min - ArcG3

Beat The London System! || Learn The Ultimate Defense - 32 min - agadmantor

Learn two weapons against the London System in 10 minutes  - 10 Min - Chessbase India

An aggressive anti-London system for club players - 16 Min - The Bristol Chess Times

NEVER FEAR The London Again! FULL GM-Analysis 6... cxd4 - 45 Min - GM Jesper Thybo (New)

IM Minh Le

A repertoire for Black against the London System : The introduction and some nasty traps - 11 Min 
A repertoire for Black against the London System ( Part 2): Minor Lines - 12 Min
A repertoire for Black against the London System ( Part 3): The tricky and complex line 3.d5 - 13 Min

IM Christof  Sielecki

Fight the London System with Black Pt 1 - ...d5 Setups (Queens Gambit) - 22 Min
Fight the London System with Black Pt 2 - ...Nf6,g6 Setups (Kings Indian, Grunfeld) - 15 Min
Fight the London System with Black Pt 3 - ...Nf6 e6 Setups (Nimzo, Queens Indian) - 16 Min
Fight the London System with Black Pt 4 - London vs. other moves (1...d6,g6,f5,e6) - 18 Min

Game Videos (w/analysis)

Master Class | Defeating The London System | Chess Speedrun | Grandmaster Naroditsky  - 28 Min
Catching the London off Guard With QB6!! | The Sensei Speedrun | GM Naroditsky - 31 Min
The Anti-London Game Every Chess Player Should Know - 17 Min - IM Rosen
Get London Players Out of Their Comfort Zone  - 20 Min - Johnathan Schrantz

Bishops Bounty London Page - Here  

 

Update to Gambit Pages (New Videos) (June 2023)

 Albin Counter Gambit Page - Albin Counter Gambit Here

Opening Guides
Master the Brutal Albin Counter-Gambit - Chess Opening Guide  - 30 Min
Crush The Queen's Gambit - An Aggressive Countergambit  -  14 Min - NM Nelson Lopez

Guides Against
Annoying Openings: How to Beat the Albin Counter Gambit - 16 Min - Chessdawg
How to Easily Defeat The Albin Counter Gambit!! - 20 Min - IM Miodrag Perunovic
Crush Albin Counter-Gambit - 33 Min - The Chessworld

Game Videos (w/analysis)
Holy Gambit Grail #11: Albin Countergambit   - 12 Min  - Johnathan Schrantz

Benko Gambit (Volga) Page -  Benko Gambit Page Here

Guide
The Benko Gambit: Lecture by GM Ben Finegold - 54 Min

Guides Against
THE BEST Opening For Black Against 1.d4 | Benko Gambit | Chess Opening Explained - 14 Min - Coach Kestony
Crush The Benko Gambit with White!! - 31 Min - IM Miodrag Perunovic (The Butcher)

Game Videos (w/analysis)
Taking Down the Benko Gambit!! | The Sensei Speedrun | GM Naroditsky - 36 Min
Magnus Carlsen DESTROYS Prodigy Gukesh D with the Benko Gambit - 5 Min
Magnus Carlsen Plays Benko Gambit Against Grandmaster Arthur Kogan - 6 Min
Dealing with the Benko Gambit · Training Game - 46 min - Hanging Pawns
Shakhriyar Crushing the Benko Gambit - 9 Min


Budapest Gambit Page - Budapest Gambit Page Here

Guide
The simplest chess opening for Black || Budapest Gambit - 15 Min 

Guides Against
Good Opening For Black Against 1.d4 - Budapest Gambit - 16 Min - Coach Kestony
Alekhine Variation to CRUSH the Budapest Gambit - 17 Min - Chess Geek

Game Videos (w/analysis)
Holy Gambit Grail #12: Budapest Gambit - 8 Min - Johnathan Schrantz