Caissa Codex

Chess gambits by popularity

Lines that offer or accept a gambit, ranked by the number of rated Lichess games that reached them. "… Gambit Declined" lines are left out: nothing is sacrificed in them.

# Opening Moves Games White / Draw / Black
1 D06 Queen's Gambit 1. d4 d5 2. c4 120.6M 52 / 5 / 43
2 C30 King's Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. f4 48.3M 52 / 4 / 45
3 A40 Englund Gambit 1. d4 e5 29.7M 49 / 4 / 47
4 B21 Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit 1. e4 c5 2. d4 27.2M 49 / 4 / 47
5 D20 Queen's Gambit Accepted 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 22M 55 / 5 / 41
6 C33 King's Gambit Accepted 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 21.5M 52 / 3 / 45
7 C34 King's Gambit Accepted: King's Knight's Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 19.3M 52 / 3 / 45
8 C44 Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 11.1M 54 / 4 / 42
9 C21 Danish Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 11M 54 / 4 / 42
10 A06 Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit 1. e4 d5 2. Nf3 9.3M 49 / 4 / 47
11 B21 Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 9.2M 51 / 4 / 45
12 D00 Blackmar-Diemer Gambit 1. d4 d5 2. e4 8.9M 51 / 4 / 45
13 C40 Elephant Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 7.7M 47 / 4 / 49
14 C21 Danish Gambit Accepted 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 dxc3 7.5M 56 / 3 / 40
15 A04 Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation 1. Nf3 e6 7M 52 / 5 / 43
16 C40 King's Pawn Game: Busch-Gass Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Bc5 7M 53 / 4 / 44
17 C31 King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 6.2M 47 / 4 / 49
18 D20 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Old Variation 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 5.7M 56 / 5 / 39
19 D08 Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 5.6M 49 / 5 / 46
20 C44 Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Dubois Réti Defense 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4… 5.5M 50 / 5 / 45
21 A40 Englund Gambit: Main Line 1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 Nc6 3. Nf3 Qe7 5.3M 49 / 4 / 47
22 B01 Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 c6 5.1M 47 / 4 / 49
23 C34 King's Gambit Accepted: MacLeod Defense 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 Nc6 4.9M 55 / 3 / 42
24 D20 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Saduleto Variation 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 4.7M 54 / 4 / 42
25 C42 Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6 4.6M 47 / 4 / 49
26 A43 Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit Accepted 1. d4 c5 2. dxc5 4.6M 46 / 4 / 50
27 A40 Englund Gambit: Hartlaub-Charlick Gambit 1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 d6 4.5M 48 / 4 / 48
28 C50 Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4 4.3M 49 / 4 / 47
29 C29 Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 4.3M 56 / 4 / 40
30 A57 Benko Gambit 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4.2M 44 / 6 / 50
31 B20 Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit 1. e4 c5 2. b4 4.1M 49 / 4 / 47
32 C31 King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit Accepted 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 4.1M 48 / 4 / 48
33 C34 King's Gambit Accepted: Fischer Defense 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 d6 4M 53 / 4 / 44
34 C51 Italian Game: Evans Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 3.9M 52 / 3 / 44
35 C44 Scotch Game: Haxo Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4… 3.7M 54 / 4 / 42
36 C40 Latvian Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3.7M 48 / 4 / 48
37 D00 Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System, Steinitz Countergambit 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3.4M 48 / 5 / 47
38 C40 Elephant Gambit: Paulsen Countergambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 e4 3.2M 45 / 4 / 51
39 B21 Sicilian Defense: Morphy Gambit 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. Nf3 3.1M 48 / 4 / 47
40 C51 Italian Game: Evans Gambit Accepted 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4… 3M 52 / 3 / 44
41 A02 Bird Opening: From's Gambit 1. f4 e5 2.9M 47 / 4 / 49
42 C54 Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Traditional Line 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6… 2.9M 51 / 5 / 44
43 C44 Scotch Game: Göring Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 2.8M 55 / 4 / 41
44 C36 King's Gambit Accepted: Modern Defense 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 d5 4. exd5 2.7M 51 / 4 / 45
45 B00 Duras Gambit 1. e4 f5 2.6M 51 / 3 / 45
46 C35 King's Gambit Accepted: Cunningham Defense 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 Be7 2.6M 48 / 3 / 48
47 A00 Grob Opening: Grob Gambit 1. g4 d5 2. Bg2 2.5M 51 / 4 / 45
48 C50 Italian Game: Rousseau Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 f5 2.5M 46 / 3 / 50
49 C44 Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Advance Variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4… 2.5M 49 / 4 / 46
50 D21 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Normal Variation 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 2.4M 56 / 5 / 39
51 B01 Scandinavian Defense: Icelandic-Palme Gambit 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. c4 e6 2.4M 44 / 4 / 52
52 D00 Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Accepted 1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. f3… 2.4M 53 / 4 / 43
53 C50 Italian Game: Classical Variation, Albin Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O… 2.4M 52 / 4 / 44
54 A57 Benko Gambit Accepted 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 2.3M 45 / 6 / 49
55 C02 French Defense: Advance Variation, Milner-Barry Gambit 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6… 2.2M 50 / 4 / 46
56 D08 Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit, Normal Line 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 2.1M 50 / 5 / 45
57 C25 Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 2M 53 / 4 / 43
58 B01 Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne Gambit 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 c6 3. dxc6 Nxc6 1.9M 47 / 4 / 48
59 A04 Zukertort Opening: Ross Gambit 1. Nf3 e5 1.9M 55 / 4 / 41
60 C56 Italian Game: Scotch Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4… 1.9M 52 / 5 / 43
61 C31 King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Staunton Line 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 1.8M 46 / 4 / 50
62 C24 Bishop's Opening: Ponziani Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d4 1.8M 55 / 4 / 41
63 C33 King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Bc4 1.7M 54 / 3 / 42
64 B01 Scandinavian Defense: Boehnke Gambit 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 e5 3. dxe6 Bxe6 1.6M 50 / 4 / 46
65 C44 Scotch Game: Göring Gambit, Double Pawn Sacrifice 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3… 1.6M 58 / 3 / 39
66 C50 Italian Game: Rosentreter Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d4 1.6M 51 / 4 / 45
67 C10 French Defense: Marshall Gambit 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 c5 1.6M 55 / 4 / 40
68 C34 King's Gambit Accepted: Schallopp Defense 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 Nf6 1.6M 54 / 4 / 43
69 B20 Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Marshall Variation 1. e4 c5 2. b4 cxb4 3. a3 1.5M 49 / 4 / 47
70 C56 Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4… 1.5M 60 / 3 / 37
71 D00 Queen's Pawn Game: Hübsch Gambit 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. e4 1.4M 50 / 4 / 46
72 C67 Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Rio Gambit Accepted 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O… 1.4M 48 / 8 / 44
73 C31 King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Modern Transfer 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 exf4 1.4M 47 / 4 / 48
74 C50 Italian Game: Deutz Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O… 1.3M 59 / 4 / 38
75 C52 Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Main Line 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4… 1.3M 51 / 3 / 46
76 A05 Zukertort Opening: Lemberger Gambit 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. e4 1.2M 42 / 4 / 54
77 A40 Englund Gambit: Soller Gambit 1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 f6 1.2M 52 / 4 / 45
78 D24 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Showalter Variation 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 1.2M 54 / 5 / 41
79 D21 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Rosenthal Variation 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 1.2M 56 / 5 / 39
80 B01 Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4 1.2M 44 / 5 / 51
81 C40 Latvian Gambit Accepted 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. exf5 1.2M 47 / 4 / 50
82 C54 Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Modern Line 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6… 1.2M 54 / 5 / 41
83 D00 Blackmar-Diemer Gambit: Blackmar Gambit 1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. f3 1.2M 51 / 4 / 46
84 C44 Ponziani Opening: Neumann Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Bc4 1.2M 48 / 4 / 48
85 A58 Benko Gambit Accepted: Fully Accepted Variation 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6… 1.2M 44 / 7 / 49
86 C31 King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Blackburne Attack 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. Nf3 1.1M 48 / 4 / 48
87 C29 Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Main Line 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 1.1M 48 / 5 / 47
88 D31 Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 1.1M 55 / 5 / 40
89 C21 Center Game: von der Lasa Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Bc4 1.1M 53 / 4 / 43
90 B40 Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Deferred 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. c3 1.1M 50 / 4 / 46
91 B02 Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Geschev Gambit 1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. exd5 c6 1.1M 47 / 4 / 49
92 A00 Grob Opening: Grob Gambit, Fritz Gambit 1. g4 d5 2. Bg2 Bxg4 3. c4 1.1M 56 / 3 / 40
93 C51 Italian Game: Evans Gambit, McDonnell Defense 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4… 1M 57 / 3 / 40
94 C41 Philidor Defense: Morphy Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 1M 53 / 4 / 43
95 D00 Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Accepted: Ryder Gambit 1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. f3… 977K 51 / 3 / 45
96 B21 Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Paulsen Formation 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3… 956K 49 / 4 / 47
97 C00 French Defense: Wing Gambit 1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e5 c5 4. b4 945K 53 / 4 / 42
98 C36 King's Gambit Accepted: Abbazia Defense 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 d5 4. exd5… 944K 45 / 5 / 50
99 A82 Dutch Defense: Staunton Gambit 1. d4 f5 2. e4 936K 55 / 5 / 40
100 B00 Nimzowitsch Defense: Colorado Countergambit 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 f5 924K 46 / 4 / 50

Numbers: rated blitz, rapid and classical games on Lichess between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer as cached by this site; a line's numbers are refreshed once they are a week old. Each name appears once, as its most-played line.

https://chesscodex.org/gambits