Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit, Balogh Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
2,525 games: White 48.7% / Draw 5.0% / Black 46.4%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 1,7731,773 | ||
| 332332 | ||
| 304304 | ||
| 4040 | ||
| 3535 | ||
| 1313 | ||
| 77 | ||
| 66 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 23, 2026
Engine evaluation
+1.33 White is better
Best play: 6. g3 Nxe5 7. Nxe5 Qxe5 8. Nf3 Qh5 9. Bg2 Nf6 10. O-O Bd6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit, Balogh Variation (ECO D08, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a gambit in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit, Modern Line, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 Qe7 (5 moves).
In 2,525 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 48.7%, Black 46.4% and 5.0% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. Nb3, in 70% of those games.
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How to play against the Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit, Balogh Variation
6. g3 scores best for White: 60.5%, with White winning 58.7% and Black 37.7% of 332 games. The most played, 6. Nb3, scores 50.4% in 1,773 games, and 6. a3 scores lowest: 45.9%. Stockfish's first choice is also 6. g3.
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. “Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit, Balogh Variation (D08)”. Lichess data as of 23 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/queens-gambit-declined-albin-countergambit-balogh-variation