King's Pawn Game: Damiano Defense, Damiano Gambit, Chigorin Gambit
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Statistics from Lichess
4,169 games: White 53.0% / Draw 5.9% / Black 41.1%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 2,9412,941 | ||
| 421421 | ||
| 245245 | ||
| 204204 | ||
| 193193 | ||
| 8282 | ||
| 4848 | ||
| 2626 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
+2.48 White is clearly better
Best play: 5. d3 Nc6 6. Nc3 Be6 7. Be3 dxe4 8. dxe4 Qf7 9. Bb5 Ne7
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
King's Pawn Game: Damiano Defense, Damiano Gambit, Chigorin Gambit (ECO C40, Open Games) is a gambit in the King's Pawn Game: Damiano Defense, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6 3. Nxe5 Qe7 4. Nf3 d5 (4 moves).
In 4,169 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 53.0%, Black 41.1% and 5.9% were drawn. White's most played move here is 5. d3, in 71% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the King's Pawn Game: Damiano Defense, Damiano Gambit, Chigorin Gambit
The most played answer, 5. d3, also scores best for White: 59.1%, with White winning 55.9% and Black 37.7% of 2,941 games. Of the main answers, 5. Nc3 scores lowest: 46.3%. Stockfish's first choice is also 5. d3.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White'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. “King's Pawn Game: Damiano Defense, Damiano Gambit, Chigorin Gambit (C40)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/kings-pawn-game-damiano-defense-damiano-gambit-chigorin-gambit