A45

Indian Defense: Paleface Attack, Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Deferred

Chess diagram: Indian Defense: Paleface Attack, Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Deferred after 3. e4

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

162,018 games: White 51.5% / Draw 4.4% / Black 44.1%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
143,996144K
9,0419,041
3,0523,052
1,9721,972
1,9671,967
675675
471471
125125

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 3, 2026

Engine evaluation

−0.71 Black is better

Best play: 3... dxe4 4. Nc3 exf3 5. Nxf3 g6 6. Bc4 Bg7 7. Bg5 O-O 8. Qd2

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Indian Defense: Paleface Attack, Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Deferred (ECO A45, Flank Openings) is a gambit in the Paleface Attack, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. f3 d5 3. e4 (3 moves).

In 162,018 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 51.5%, Black 44.1% and 4.4% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 3…dxe4, in 89% of those games.

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How to play against the Indian Defense: Paleface Attack, Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Deferred

3…e6 scores best for Black: 47.9%, with Black winning 45.8% and White 50.0% of 9,041 games. The most played answer, 3…dxe4, scores lowest: 46.1% in 144K games. Stockfish's first choice is 3…dxe4.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Indian Defense: Paleface Attack, Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Deferred (A45)”. Lichess data as of 3 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/indian-defense-paleface-attack-blackmar-diemer-gambit-deferred