Chessy
Playing Black in the Danish Gambit Declined: Sörensen Defense
If you're tired of facing the Danish Gambit and want a reliable way to snatch the advantage right on move three, the Sörensen Defense (1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d5) is your answer. Instead of letting White throw more pawns at you, you strike back in the centre immediately. The statistics speak for themselves: across over 420,000 games, Black scores 51.5% from this position — a healthy plus for the second player. The engine rates this dead level at -0.20, meaning you're not fighting for equality; you're already there. The drill below will teach you how to handle White's best replies and punish the moves that aren't up to par.
Play the Danish Gambit Declined: Sörensen Defense against the engine
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The Danish Gambit relies on White sacrificing pawns for rapid development. By playing 3...d5, you refuse the sacrifice on your terms. Instead of capturing on c3 and letting White build a monster centre with Bc4 and Nf3, you challenge the centre immediately. This move turns the game into a real fight — White has to decide what to do with their c3 pawn and how to recapture on d5. The engine's evaluation of -0.20 confirms you've done your job well: the position is equal, and White has no shortcut to an attack.
White's Best Move: exd5
The engine's top choice is 4.exd5, and it's also the most popular move on the board, appearing in over 140,000 games. After 4...Qxd5, White can continue with 5.cxd4, aiming to catch up on material while keeping the centre stable. From here, Black should develop naturally — 5...Nc6 is the engine's follow-up, eyeing the d4 pawn and preparing quick development. In this line White scores 47.3%, so Black is slightly outperforming the average. The position is open, and both sides have chances, but Black's extra central influence from ...d5 makes it comfortable to play.
The Mistake to Punish: 4.e5
One of White's most tempting options is 4.e5, pushing the pawn forward and hoping to cramp Black's position. This is actually an inaccuracy that loses about 1.0 pawns of advantage. Black should respond by targeting the advanced pawn: develop your pieces with tempo, pressure the e5 pawn, and enjoy the extra space White has given up. White's score drops to 48.5% after this move, meaning Black has even better odds than usual. The engine says White should have captured on d5 instead — don't let them get away with this push.
Three More White Inaccuracies
White has several other moves that fall short of the best, and each one gives you extra chances. 4.cxd4 loses about 0.6 pawns — White allows ...Qxd4, and Black gets comfortable play. 4.Nf3 loses roughly 0.9 pawns and is a passive approach that lets Black take over the centre. And perhaps most strikingly, 4.Bc4 scores a miserable 24.6% for White across nearly 20,000 games. That's the lowest win rate of any reasonable continuation in this position. Black develops smoothly with ...dxe4 or ...Nc6, and White's bishop on c4 doesn't accomplish enough. Whenever you see one of these weaker moves, remember: the statistics are on your side.
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
Is the Sörensen Defense a good way to refute the Danish Gambit?
It's one of the most reliable responses. Black scores 51.5% from this position, which is a clear practical plus. The engine calls it dead level at -0.20, so you're not walking into any disadvantage. It's a principled central counter that avoids the trickiest gambit lines.
What should Black do after 4.exd5?
Recapture with 4...Qxd5. White usually continues 5.cxd4, and then you develop with 5...Nc6, hitting the d4 pawn. This is the engine's best line, and it leads to an open, equal middlegame where your development is easy.
Is 4.e5 a good move for White in the Sörensen Defense?
No — it's an inaccuracy that loses about 1.0 pawns of advantage. Black should target the e5 pawn with natural developing moves. White scores only 48.5% after 4.e5, so you're actually more likely to win than your opponent from that point.
What is White's worst move in this position?
4.Bc4 is statistically the worst, with White winning just 24.6% of games. It doesn't address the centre, and Black can respond with ...dxe4 or ...Nc6 comfortably. If you see Bc4, you can be confident you're already doing well.
How many games feature the Danish Gambit Declined: Sörensen Defense?
Over 424K Lichess games have reached the Danish Gambit Declined: Sörensen Defense position. White wins 44.7%, Black wins 51.5%, with 3.8% draws — based on real rated games.