Chessy
Danish Gambit Declined: Sörensen Defense for Black
In the Danish Gambit Declined: Sörensen Defense, your job as Black is simple: meet White’s early pawn sacrifice with calm central play and avoid drifting into worse positions for free. The critical position comes after 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d5, where it is White to move and the whole opening is already in the drill. Stockfish rates this -0.21, a small plus for Black. That means you are basically equal, so good development and accurate replies matter more than tactics you can memorise.
Play the Danish Gambit Declined: Sörensen Defense against the engine
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Create a free account →What Black is fighting for
This opening is not about grabbing the spotlight. It is about taking the sting out of the Danish Gambit and leaving White with a fair question to solve. After 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d5, you have already chosen a practical way to meet the gambit: strike in the centre and keep the position under control. The engine verdict is close to level, so your main goal is to stay accurate and not help White’s attack for free. If you are comfortable with calm developing play, this is a good structure to learn in the drill.
The engine move to trust
The engine’s best move here is exd5, and the listed continuation is exd5 Qxd5 cxd4 Nc6. That tells you the main lesson: do not panic, and do not overcomplicate the position. The central capture simplifies the opening and keeps Black’s position healthy. In the drill, look for the move that fits that idea instead of trying to “win back” the gambit in a flashy way. This is the kind of opening where one accurate central decision can keep the whole game balanced.
What the database says
The position has been played a lot: 424,878 games at this exact point in the Lichess database. White wins 44.7%, draws 3.8%, and Black wins 51.5%. That is a very practical sign for Black: this opening has been handled often, and Black has scored well. The most-played continuation is exd5 in 140,294 games, with White scoring 47.3%. Other popular tries are Qxd4 in 95,213 games, e5 in 65,613 games, cxd4 in 63,496 games, Nf3 in 19,482 games, and Bc4 in 19,447 games. The numbers suggest that you should be ready for a range of White tries, but the position remains manageable if you know your main reply.
Common mistakes to punish
This drill is especially useful because several White moves are clearly worse than the main line. e5 is an inaccuracy, losing about 0.8 pawns, with exd5 as the better move. cxd4 is also an inaccuracy, losing about 0.9 pawns, again with exd5 as the better move. Nf3 is the biggest listed error, and it loses about 1.1 pawns, with exd5 still the best answer. When you play against the drill, keep your eyes on these weak choices: if White avoids the strongest central capture, you are usually the one who benefits.
Results across 424,878 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| exd5 | 140,294 | 47.3% |
| Qxd4 | 95,213 | 45.8% |
| e5 | 65,613 | 48.5% |
| cxd4 | 63,496 | 41.4% |
| Nf3 | 19,482 | 41.7% |
| Bc4 | 19,447 | 24.6% |
Frequently asked questions
How should Black meet the Danish Gambit Declined: Sörensen Defense?
The key move in the drill is exd5. The engine recommends it, and the listed continuation shows a clean central resolution that keeps Black comfortable. Your aim is to stay solid rather than chase complications.
Is the Danish Gambit Declined: Sörensen Defense good for Black?
Yes, the position is basically equal after the opening moves. Stockfish gives -0.21, which is a small plus for Black. That means you are not worse here, and the database results are also practical for Black.
What does White usually play in this position?
The most-played continuation is exd5, and it appears far more often than the other listed tries. Qxd4, e5, cxd4, Nf3, and Bc4 also show up in the database. The drill helps you recognise which choices are common and which ones are weaker.
Which White moves are mistakes here?
e5 is an inaccuracy, cxd4 is an inaccuracy, and Nf3 is a mistake. In each case, exd5 is given as the better move. If White chooses one of those weaker options, Black should be ready to come out well.