Caissa Codex

Chess gambits

All 1,042 named lines that offer or accept a gambit, with their moves and how often each side wins on Lichess.

The 100 most-played gambits

# Opening Moves Games White / Draw / BlackW / D / B Stockfish
1 D06 Queen's Gambit 1. d4 d5 2. c4 120.6M 52 / 5 / 43 +0.20
2 C30 King's Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. f4 48.3M 52 / 4 / 45 −0.44
3 A40 Englund Gambit 1. d4 e5 29.7M 49 / 4 / 47 +1.60
4 B21 Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit 1. e4 c5 2. d4 27.2M 49 / 4 / 47 +0.05
5 D20 Queen's Gambit Accepted 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 22M 55 / 5 / 41 +0.21
6 C33 King's Gambit Accepted 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 21.5M 52 / 3 / 45 −0.55
7 C34 King's Gambit Accepted: King's Knight's Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 19.3M 52 / 3 / 45 −0.38
8 C44 Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 11.1M 54 / 4 / 42 −0.04
9 C21 Danish Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 11M 54 / 4 / 42 −0.33
10 A06 Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit 1. e4 d5 2. Nf3 9.3M 49 / 4 / 47 −1.27
11 B21 Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 9.2M 51 / 4 / 45 −0.14
12 D00 Blackmar-Diemer Gambit 1. d4 d5 2. e4 8.9M 51 / 4 / 45 −0.62
13 C40 Elephant Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 7.7M 47 / 4 / 49 +1.24
14 C21 Danish Gambit Accepted 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 dxc3 7.5M 56 / 3 / 40 −0.24
15 A04 Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation 1. Nf3 e6 7M 52 / 5 / 43 +0.20
16 C40 King's Pawn Game: Busch-Gass Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Bc5 7M 53 / 4 / 44 +2.26
17 C31 King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 6.2M 47 / 4 / 49 −0.26
18 D20 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Old Variation 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 5.7M 56 / 5 / 39 +0.20
19 D08 Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 5.6M 49 / 5 / 46 +0.82
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 0.00
21 A40 Englund Gambit: Main Line 1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 Nc6 3. Nf3 Qe7 5.3M 49 / 4 / 47 +1.89
22 B01 Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 c6 5.1M 47 / 4 / 49 +0.77
23 C34 King's Gambit Accepted: MacLeod Defense 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 Nc6 4.9M 55 / 3 / 42 +0.17
24 D20 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Saduleto Variation 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 4.7M 54 / 4 / 42 +0.25
25 C42 Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6 4.6M 47 / 4 / 49 +2.03
26 A43 Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit Accepted 1. d4 c5 2. dxc5 4.6M 46 / 4 / 50 +0.14
27 A40 Englund Gambit: Hartlaub-Charlick Gambit 1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 d6 4.5M 48 / 4 / 48 +1.63
28 C50 Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4 4.3M 49 / 4 / 47 +1.42
29 C29 Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 4.3M 56 / 4 / 40 −0.12
30 A57 Benko Gambit 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4.2M 44 / 6 / 50 +0.65
31 B20 Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit 1. e4 c5 2. b4 4.1M 49 / 4 / 47 −0.22
32 C31 King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit Accepted 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 4.1M 48 / 4 / 48 −0.23
33 C34 King's Gambit Accepted: Fischer Defense 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 d6 4M 53 / 4 / 44 −0.32
34 C51 Italian Game: Evans Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 3.9M 52 / 3 / 44 −0.10
35 C44 Scotch Game: Haxo Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4… 3.7M 54 / 4 / 42 +0.07
36 C40 Latvian Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3.7M 48 / 4 / 48 +1.76
37 D00 Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System, Steinitz Countergambit 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3.4M 48 / 5 / 47 0.00
38 C40 Elephant Gambit: Paulsen Countergambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 e4 3.2M 45 / 4 / 51 +1.06
39 B21 Sicilian Defense: Morphy Gambit 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. Nf3 3.1M 48 / 4 / 47 +0.01
40 C51 Italian Game: Evans Gambit Accepted 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4… 3M 52 / 3 / 44 −0.04
41 A02 Bird Opening: From's Gambit 1. f4 e5 2.9M 47 / 4 / 49 +0.58
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 0.00
43 C44 Scotch Game: Göring Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 2.8M 55 / 4 / 41 −0.11
44 C36 King's Gambit Accepted: Modern Defense 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 d5 4. exd5 2.7M 51 / 4 / 45 −0.26
45 B00 Duras Gambit 1. e4 f5 2.6M 51 / 3 / 45 +2.13
46 C35 King's Gambit Accepted: Cunningham Defense 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 Be7 2.6M 48 / 3 / 48 −0.25
47 A00 Grob Opening: Grob Gambit 1. g4 d5 2. Bg2 2.5M 51 / 4 / 45 −1.39
48 C50 Italian Game: Rousseau Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 f5 2.5M 46 / 3 / 50 +1.49
49 C44 Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Advance Variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4… 2.5M 49 / 4 / 46 −0.02
50 D21 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Normal Variation 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 2.4M 56 / 5 / 39 +0.27
51 B01 Scandinavian Defense: Icelandic-Palme Gambit 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. c4 e6 2.4M 44 / 4 / 52 +0.40
52 D00 Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Accepted 1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. f3… 2.4M 53 / 4 / 43 −0.67
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 −0.26
54 A57 Benko Gambit Accepted 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 2.3M 45 / 6 / 49 +0.55
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 +0.16
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 +0.67
57 C25 Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 2M 53 / 4 / 43 −0.25
58 B01 Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne Gambit 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 c6 3. dxc6 Nxc6 1.9M 47 / 4 / 48 +0.69
59 A04 Zukertort Opening: Ross Gambit 1. Nf3 e5 1.9M 55 / 4 / 41 +1.59
60 C56 Italian Game: Scotch Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4… 1.9M 52 / 5 / 43 −0.12
61 C31 King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Staunton Line 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 1.8M 46 / 4 / 50 +0.25
62 C24 Bishop's Opening: Ponziani Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d4 1.8M 55 / 4 / 41 −0.21
63 C33 King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Bc4 1.7M 54 / 3 / 42 −0.48
64 B01 Scandinavian Defense: Boehnke Gambit 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 e5 3. dxe6 Bxe6 1.6M 50 / 4 / 46 +1.16
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 −0.15
66 C50 Italian Game: Rosentreter Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d4 1.6M 51 / 4 / 45 −0.17
67 C10 French Defense: Marshall Gambit 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 c5 1.6M 55 / 4 / 40 +1.54
68 C34 King's Gambit Accepted: Schallopp Defense 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 Nf6 1.6M 54 / 4 / 43 −0.41
69 B20 Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Marshall Variation 1. e4 c5 2. b4 cxb4 3. a3 1.5M 49 / 4 / 47 −0.36
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 +0.19
71 D00 Queen's Pawn Game: Hübsch Gambit 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. e4 1.4M 50 / 4 / 46 −0.67
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 +0.22
73 C31 King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Modern Transfer 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 exf4 1.4M 47 / 4 / 48 −0.11
74 C50 Italian Game: Deutz Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O… 1.3M 59 / 4 / 38 −0.31
75 C52 Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Main Line 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4… 1.3M 51 / 3 / 46 +0.02
76 A05 Zukertort Opening: Lemberger Gambit 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. e4 1.2M 42 / 4 / 54 −0.73
77 A40 Englund Gambit: Soller Gambit 1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 f6 1.2M 52 / 4 / 45 +2.11
78 D24 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Showalter Variation 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 1.2M 54 / 5 / 41 0.00
79 D21 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Rosenthal Variation 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 1.2M 56 / 5 / 39 +0.26
80 B01 Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4 1.2M 44 / 5 / 51 +0.73
81 C40 Latvian Gambit Accepted 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. exf5 1.2M 47 / 4 / 50 +1.51
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 +0.17
83 D00 Blackmar-Diemer Gambit: Blackmar Gambit 1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. f3 1.2M 51 / 4 / 46 −0.92
84 C44 Ponziani Opening: Neumann Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Bc4 1.2M 48 / 4 / 48 −0.84
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 +0.40
86 C31 King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Blackburne Attack 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. Nf3 1.1M 48 / 4 / 48 −0.17
87 C29 Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit, Main Line 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 1.1M 48 / 5 / 47 −0.13
88 D31 Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 1.1M 55 / 5 / 40 +0.17
89 C21 Center Game: von der Lasa Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Bc4 1.1M 53 / 4 / 43 −0.23
90 B40 Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Deferred 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. c3 1.1M 50 / 4 / 46 −0.13
91 B02 Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Geschev Gambit 1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. exd5 c6 1.1M 47 / 4 / 49 +0.84
92 A00 Grob Opening: Grob Gambit, Fritz Gambit 1. g4 d5 2. Bg2 Bxg4 3. c4 1.1M 56 / 3 / 40 −1.43
93 C51 Italian Game: Evans Gambit, McDonnell Defense 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4… 1M 57 / 3 / 40 +0.34
94 C41 Philidor Defense: Morphy Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 1M 53 / 4 / 43 +0.25
95 D00 Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Accepted: Ryder Gambit 1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. f3… 977K 51 / 3 / 45 −2.14
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 −0.15
97 C00 French Defense: Wing Gambit 1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e5 c5 4. b4 945K 53 / 4 / 42 −0.19
98 C36 King's Gambit Accepted: Abbazia Defense 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 d5 4. exd5… 944K 45 / 5 / 50 −0.24
99 A82 Dutch Defense: Staunton Gambit 1. d4 f5 2. e4 936K 55 / 5 / 40 0.00
100 B00 Nimzowitsch Defense: Colorado Countergambit 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 f5 924K 46 / 4 / 50 +1.36

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. A line counts as a gambit when its name has "Gambit" or "Countergambit" in it. Plain "… Gambit Declined" lines are left out, since nothing is sacrificed in them, but countergambits played against a gambit, such as the Falkbeer or the Albin, are included. The Stockfish column is the engine's evaluation after the line's last move, in pawns from White's side. Compare it with the results to see which gambits do better in practice than on the engine.

Stockfish against practice

Stockfish judges a position by best play; the results show what happens in real games. Among the 100 most-played gambits, scored for the side that plays the gambit (wins plus half the draws):

Worse on the engine, fine in practice

OpeningStockfishGambit side scores
A40 Englund Gambit +1.60 Black 49.0%
A06 Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit −1.27 White 50.7%
C40 Elephant Gambit +1.24 Black 51.1%
C42 Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit +2.03 Black 50.8%
C50 Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit +1.42 Black 49.3%
C40 Latvian Gambit +1.76 Black 50.0%
A00 Grob Opening: Grob Gambit −1.39 White 53.4%
B01 Scandinavian Defense: Boehnke Gambit +1.16 Black 48.2%

Weaker as the players get stronger

OpeningUnder 14002200+Masters
A40 Englund Gambit: Main Linefor Black 54% 44% —
C36 King's Gambit Accepted: Modern Defensefor White 60% 50% 51%
C67 Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Rio Gambit Acceptedfor White 61% 51% 52%
D00 Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Accepted: Ryder Gambitfor White 56% 46% —
C54 Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Modern Linefor White 60% 51% 54%
C44 Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Advance Variationfor White 58% 50% 50%
D21 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Normal Variationfor White 59% 52% 56%
C10 French Defense: Marshall Gambitfor Black 49% 42% —

Stockfish 19 at depth 30, after the line's last move, in pawns from White's side; "worse" means a pawn or more. Scores: rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, and by rating band for the 1,500 most-played lines; masters: over-the-board games of players rated 2200 and up, shown from 300 games.

All chess gambits A–Z 1,042 lines

Every named gambit and countergambit line, grouped by opening, with the number of rated Lichess games that reached it.

Alekhine Defense 10 lines ↑ Contents

Amar Opening 2 lines ↑ Contents

Anderssen's Opening 1 line ↑ Contents

Barnes Opening 2 lines ↑ Contents

Benko Gambit 8 lines ↑ Contents

Benko Gambit Accepted 10 lines ↑ Contents

Benko Gambit Declined 1 line ↑ Contents

Benoni Defense 7 lines ↑ Contents

Bird Opening 20 lines ↑ Contents

Bishop's Opening 27 lines ↑ Contents

Blackmar-Diemer Gambit 18 lines ↑ Contents

Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Accepted 21 lines ↑ Contents

Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Declined 2 lines ↑ Contents

Blumenfeld Countergambit 3 lines ↑ Contents

Blumenfeld Countergambit Accepted 1 line ↑ Contents

Borg Defense 4 lines ↑ Contents

Caro-Kann Defense 16 lines ↑ Contents

Carr Defense 1 line ↑ Contents

Catalan Opening 2 lines ↑ Contents

Center Game 6 lines ↑ Contents

Clemenz Opening 1 line ↑ Contents

Danish Gambit 1 line ↑ Contents

Danish Gambit Accepted 6 lines ↑ Contents

Duras Gambit 1 line ↑ Contents

Dutch Defense 23 lines ↑ Contents

Elephant Gambit 4 lines ↑ Contents

English Defense 3 lines ↑ Contents

English Opening 18 lines ↑ Contents

Englund Gambit 9 lines ↑ Contents

Four Knights Game 10 lines ↑ Contents

French Defense 39 lines ↑ Contents

Grob Opening 12 lines ↑ Contents

Grünfeld Defense 7 lines ↑ Contents

Horwitz Defense 1 line ↑ Contents

Hungarian Opening 9 lines ↑ Contents

Indian Defense 16 lines ↑ Contents

Irish Gambit 1 line ↑ Contents

Italian Game 76 lines ↑ Contents

King's Gambit 1 line ↑ Contents

King's Gambit Accepted 137 lines ↑ Contents

King's Gambit Declined 36 lines ↑ Contents

King's Indian Attack 1 line ↑ Contents

King's Indian Defense 4 lines ↑ Contents

King's Pawn Game 20 lines ↑ Contents

King's Pawn Opening 1 line ↑ Contents

Kádas Opening 5 lines ↑ Contents

Latvian Gambit 17 lines ↑ Contents

Latvian Gambit Accepted 9 lines ↑ Contents

Lion Defense 1 line ↑ Contents

Mexican Defense 1 line ↑ Contents

Mikenas Defense 1 line ↑ Contents

Modern Defense 9 lines ↑ Contents

Nimzo-Indian Defense 7 lines ↑ Contents

Nimzo-Larsen Attack 4 lines ↑ Contents

Nimzowitsch Defense 16 lines ↑ Contents

Old Indian Defense 2 lines ↑ Contents

Owen Defense 5 lines ↑ Contents

Petrov's Defense 9 lines ↑ Contents

Philidor Defense 11 lines ↑ Contents

Pirc Defense 1 line ↑ Contents

Polish Defense 1 line ↑ Contents

Polish Opening 4 lines ↑ Contents

Ponziani Opening 6 lines ↑ Contents

Portuguese Opening 2 lines ↑ Contents

Pterodactyl Defense 2 lines ↑ Contents

Queen's Gambit 1 line ↑ Contents

Queen's Gambit Accepted 51 lines ↑ Contents

Queen's Gambit Declined 24 lines ↑ Contents

Queen's Indian Defense 3 lines ↑ Contents

Queen's Pawn Game 11 lines ↑ Contents

Rat Defense 3 lines ↑ Contents

Richter-Veresov Attack 1 line ↑ Contents

Ruy Lopez 27 lines ↑ Contents

Réti Opening 5 lines ↑ Contents

Scandinavian Defense 18 lines ↑ Contents

Scotch Game 16 lines ↑ Contents

Semi-Slav Defense 9 lines ↑ Contents

Sicilian Defense 61 lines ↑ Contents

Slav Defense 8 lines ↑ Contents

Slav Indian 1 line ↑ Contents

Sodium Attack 1 line ↑ Contents

St. George Defense 1 line ↑ Contents

Tarrasch Defense 6 lines ↑ Contents

Torre Attack 2 lines ↑ Contents

Trompowsky Attack 3 lines ↑ Contents

Van Geet Opening 22 lines ↑ Contents

Van't Kruijs Opening 3 lines ↑ Contents

Vienna Gambit 15 lines ↑ Contents

Vienna Game 22 lines ↑ Contents

Ware Opening 3 lines ↑ Contents

Zukertort Opening 13 lines ↑ Contents

https://chesscodex.org/gambits