Chessy
Blackmar-Diemer Gambit: The exf3 Acceptance
You've just pushed your e-pawn forward on move two, and Black took it. You offered another pawn with 3.f3, and now Black has accepted on f3, taking your second pawn. After 4.Nxf3, you've sacrificed two pawns for rapid development and an open f-file. This is the Blackmar Gambit, a sub-line of the classic club-weapon Blackmar-Diemer Gambit. The engine says you are slightly worse, but the statistics tell a different story: in practice, White scores over 52% from this position. Here's how to play it with confidence and turn your lead in development into a real attack.
Play the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit: Blackmar Gambit: exf3 against the engine
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Create a free account →The Trade-Off: Material vs. Development
After 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.f3 exf3 4.Nxf3, Black has gobbled two pawns. That's a big material edge for your opponent — but look at your position. You've got a knight on f3 eyeing the kingside, your d-pawn controls the centre, and you're ready to bring out your queen's knight to c3 and your dark-squared bishop to f4 or g5. Black, meanwhile, has only moved one pawn on the queenside. Your lead in development is extreme. The engine sees this as -0.64, a small edge for Black in purely objective terms, but in real club games White's active piece play often overwhelms Black before those extra pawns matter. You're not playing for equality — you're playing to checkmate.
Your Opponent's Most Likely Reply
The most popular move by far is 4...Nf6, played over 263,000 times. Black develops a knight and attacks your f3 knight. This is also the engine's best move, continuing with Nc3 g6 Bf4. You should meet 4...Nf6 with 5.Nc3, developing another piece and keeping the pressure on. Black often follows up with 5...g6, preparing to fianchetto the bishop on g7. In response, you develop your bishop to f4, putting pressure on the c7-pawn and building your kingside attack. White scores a solid 51.4% from this position — a great result considering the material deficit.
Watch for the Bg4 Pin
The second most popular reply is 4...Bg4, seen in over 231,000 games. Here Black pins your f3-knight to your queen. This is actually your best-scoring scenario, with White winning 54.3% of games. The pin looks annoying, but it doesn't stop your plans. Develop your knight to c3, and consider playing h3 to ask the bishop what it intends. If Black takes on f3, you recapture with the queen and gain time, or if the bishop retreats, you've gained a tempo. Black's early bishop sortie can leave the kingside vulnerable to your advancing pawns and pieces.
The Mistake to Punish
Statistics show that 4...Nc6 is played over 73,000 times, but the engine calls it an inaccuracy, losing about 0.6 pawns of advantage for Black compared to the correct 4...Nf6. This move blocks Black's own c-pawn and doesn't address the centre. If your opponent plays Nc6, you should be confident you've already improved your chances. Develop rapidly with 5.Nc3 and look to play Bf4 or Bg5, threatening ideas like Nb5 or simply castling queenside to launch a pawn storm. Black often has no good way to untangle their pieces while you build momentum.
Results across 744,889 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 263,621 | 51.4% |
| Bg4 | 231,410 | 54.3% |
| e6 | 93,789 | 53.1% |
| Nc6 | 73,064 | 53.0% |
| Bf5 | 17,785 | 48.8% |
| c6 | 12,437 | 54.2% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit sound for White?
Objectively, Stockfish rates this position at -0.64, meaning Black is slightly favoured with perfect play. However, in practice across nearly 745,000 games, White wins 52.9% of the time. It's an aggressive gambit that rewards tactical understanding and punishes cautious or greedy defence at club level.
What is the engine's best move after 4.Nxf3?
The engine recommends 4...Nf6, developing the knight and attacking your f3-knight. The best continuation given is Nf6 Nc3 g6 Bf4, where White builds pressure with active development while Black tries to fianchetto and consolidate their two-pawn advantage.
Is 4...Bg4 a good reply for Black?
It's the second most popular move, played in over 231,000 games, but it actually scores best for White, who wins 54.3% of the time. The pin can be annoying, but White gains time chasing the bishop away with h3, and Black's kingside remains undeveloped.
How should I respond if Black plays 4...Nc6?
Be pleased — this is a known inaccuracy that loses about 0.6 pawns of advantage compared to the better 4...Nf6. Develop your knight to c3 and continue your plan. Black's knight on c6 blocks their own c-pawn, making it harder for them to challenge your centre.