Chessy
Danish Gambit Accepted: how to meet it as Black
The Danish Gambit Accepted gives Black an early decision and then asks a simple question: can you meet White’s initiative without drifting into trouble? In this exact position, the engine says the game is level, but White’s most common tries are not all equal. Your drill is to recognise the critical replies, choose the engine’s best continuation, and avoid giving White extra chances in a sharp opening where piece activity matters more than grabbing material.
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Create a free account →What this position is really about
After 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3, White is to move and you are playing Black in a position that is already open and tactical. Stockfish rates this -0.04, a small plus for Black, so the position is dead level. That means you do not need to force anything dramatic: good development and accurate piece play are enough. The opening is not about “holding on” to material at all costs; it is about meeting White’s activity without letting the initiative snowball.
The engine’s main answer
The engine’s best move here is Nxc3. The listed continuation is Nxc3 Bb4 Bc4 Bxc3+. That tells you the key idea: meet White’s pressure with active development and be ready to simplify on your terms. In practical terms, this is a good drill position for learning how to keep your pieces active while refusing to get rattled by White’s usual attacking intentions.
What White plays most often
The most-played continuations are Bc4, Nxc3, Nf3, Qb3, bxc3, and Bd3. The most common move is Bc4, with 6,738,660 games, and White scores 56.9% there. Nxc3 appears in 1,262,815 games, with White scoring 53.2%. Nf3 appears in 341,167 games, Qb3 in 56,743 games, bxc3 in 25,535 games, and Bd3 in 23,866 games. For Black, the lesson is simple: know the most common tries, because this exact position has been reached 8,503,245 times in the Lichess database.
The moves to watch for
Three White moves are flagged as inaccuracies here: Bc4, Nf3, and Qb3. Bc4 loses about 0.8 pawns and better was Nxc3. Nf3 also loses about 0.8 pawns and better was Nxc3. Qb3 loses about 1.0 pawns and better was Nxc3. That does not mean White is lost, but it does mean those moves give you a clearer game than White deserves. If you can recognise these choices in the drill, you can steer the game toward the engine-approved reply instead of helping White build pressure for free.
Results across 8,503,245 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bc4 | 6,738,660 | 56.9% |
| Nxc3 | 1,262,815 | 53.2% |
| Nf3 | 341,167 | 56.3% |
| Qb3 | 56,743 | 58.2% |
| bxc3 | 25,535 | 25.6% |
| Bd3 | 23,866 | 53.7% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Danish Gambit Accepted good for Black?
In this exact position, the engine says the game is dead level. Stockfish rates it -0.04, so there is no clear edge for either side after the opening moves shown here. As Black, your job is to keep the position balanced and play accurately.
What is the best move for Black here?
The engine’s best move is Nxc3. The listed continuation is Nxc3 Bb4 Bc4 Bxc3+, which shows a clear active plan for Black. It is the move to learn first in the drill.
Which White replies should I expect most often?
The most common reply is Bc4, followed by Nxc3 and Nf3. Qb3 also appears, while bxc3 and Bd3 are less frequent. Knowing these choices helps you stay calm when the position appears on the board.
Which White moves are mistakes in this position?
Bc4, Nf3, and Qb3 are all marked as inaccuracies here. They each lose ground compared with Nxc3, with Qb3 losing about 1.0 pawns and the other two losing about 0.8 pawns. If White chooses one of them, you get a more comfortable game.
How many games feature the Danish Gambit Accepted?
Over 9 million Lichess games have reached the Danish Gambit Accepted position. White wins 56.1%, Black wins 40.9%, with 3.0% draws — based on real rated games.