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Danish Gambit

White gives two pawns for two bishops aiming at the black king. A great opening for kids to learn about fast development and open lines.

Beginner · Open games (1.e4 e5) · 11 steps. On Chess Castles, Chess Guru reads each step aloud in English, Hindi or Marathi while the moves play on the board, and you can practise any position against the engine.

Step 1

♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎
The position

Danish Gambit (C21). You play White. White gives two pawns for two bishops aiming at the black king. A great opening for kids to learn about fast development and open lines.

Step 2

♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 1.e4

White plays pawn to e4. It takes a centre square (e4). It opens a line for the queen on d1. It opens a line for the bishop on f1. Strong players (2000+) chose this move in 46% of 3.9 million games.

Step 3

♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 1...e5

Black plays pawn to e5. It takes a centre square (e5). It opens a line for the queen on d8. It opens a line for the bishop on f8. Strong players (2000+) chose this move in 21% of 1.8 million games.

Step 4

♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 2.d4

White plays pawn to d4. It takes a centre square (d4). It opens a line for the bishop on c1. It opens a line for the queen on d1. It challenges the opponent's pawns. It attacks the pawn on e5. Strong players (2000+) chose this move in 1% of 384k games.

Step 5

♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 2...exd4

Black plays pawn takes d4. It captures the pawn on d4. It takes a centre square (d4). It gains space. Strong players (2000+) chose this move in 94% of 4387 games.

Step 6

♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 3.c3

White plays pawn to c3. It controls the centre (d4). It opens a line for the queen on d1. It challenges the opponent's pawns. It attacks the pawn on d4. Strong players (2000+) chose this move in 16% of 4281 games.

Step 7

♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 3...dxc3

Black plays pawn takes c3. It captures the pawn on c3. It gains space. It challenges the opponent's pawns. Strong players (2000+) chose this move in 30% of 654 games.

Step 8

♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 4.Bc4

White plays bishop to c4. It develops the bishop into the game. It controls the centre (d5). Strong players (2000+) chose this move in 71% of 223 games.

Step 9

♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♝︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♞︎♜︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 4...cxb2

Black plays pawn takes b2. It captures the pawn on b2. It gains space. The pawn on b2 attacks the rook and the bishop at the same time: a fork! Strong players (2000+) chose this move in 47% of 144 games.

Step 10

♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♝︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♞︎♜︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 5.Bxb2

White plays bishop takes b2. It develops the bishop into the game. It captures the pawn on b2. It controls the centre (d4, e5). Fianchetto: the bishop aims along the long diagonal. Strong players (2000+) chose this move in 100% of 65 games.

Step 11

♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♝︎♟︎♟︎♝︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♞︎♛︎♚︎♞︎♜︎
The position

This is the main position of the Danish Gambit. Now practise it against the engine: choose a strength and play on from here.

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More lessons in Open games (1.e4 e5)

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