Chessy
Elephant Gambit: Paulsen Countergambit as Black
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 e4, Black has chosen a sharp countergambit and White is to move. The position is already unpleasant for Black: Stockfish rates it +1.10, a clear edge for White. That means you need to know what you are doing, because White can aim to keep the extra freedom and convert the advantage. This lesson page is built to help you handle the position in the drill, spot the most common replies, and understand which move the engine trusts most.
Play the Elephant Gambit: Paulsen Countergambit against the engine
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Create a free account →What you are trying to achieve
The main practical task for Black is simple: make the gambit look as active as possible while White is still deciding how to respond. You have already given up material and the position is objectively better for White, so your compensation has to come from activity and initiative, not from hoping the position is equal. In the drill, focus on keeping your pieces active and making White prove they can handle the pressure. If White plays accurately, Black still has to work hard to justify the opening.
The engine’s most trusted reply
The engine’s best move here is Qe2, and the listed continuation is Qe2 Nf6 Nc3 Be7. That tells you a lot about the kind of play White is aiming for: sensible development, quick coordination, and no rush to grab more than is safe. As Black, you should be ready for White to meet your gambit with calm development rather than panic. The drill is useful because it trains you to face the most reliable response instead of only the flashy ones.
What the database says
Across 2,752,075 games at this exact position, White wins 45.1%, draws 3.4%, and Black wins 51.5%. Those numbers are a good reminder that practical results can be messy, even when the engine likes White. Still, the evaluation is the guide for serious play, and here it says White is better. In other words, your opening choice is playable in practice, but you should expect to defend a lasting disadvantage if White handles the position well.
The replies that matter most
The most-played continuations all give you a clear sense of what White players actually try:
- Qe2 — 961,646 games, White scores 48.7%.
- Nd4 — 817,708 games, White scores 42.8%.
- Ng1 — 551,375 games, White scores 44.9%.
- Ne5 — 209,546 games, White scores 47.3%.
- Bb5+ — 74,855 games, White scores 39.9%.
- Ng5 — 59,666 games, White scores 32.6%.
The important lesson is that White has several natural-looking tries, so Black cannot rely on one cheap trick. The drill helps you learn the position after the most common choices, which is exactly what you need in a gambit like this.
Results across 2,752,075 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Qe2 | 961,646 | 48.7% |
| Nd4 | 817,708 | 42.8% |
| Ng1 | 551,375 | 44.9% |
| Ne5 | 209,546 | 47.3% |
| Bb5+ | 74,855 | 39.9% |
| Ng5 | 59,666 | 32.6% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Elephant Gambit: Paulsen Countergambit sound for Black?
This position is rated +1.10, which is a clear edge for White. So if you want a fully safe opening choice, this is not it. It is a practical gambit that leads to sharp play and a position you must handle accurately.
What is the best move for White after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 e4?
The engine’s best move is Qe2. The suggested continuation is Qe2 Nf6 Nc3 Be7, which points toward calm development rather than immediate tactics.
Which replies do White players choose most often?
The most-played continuation is Qe2, followed by Nd4, Ng1, Ne5, Bb5+, and Ng5. That mix tells you White has several natural moves, so you should be ready for different setups in the drill.
Which White replies are marked as mistakes here?
Nd4, Ng1, and Ne5 are all listed as mistakes. In each case, the better move was Qe2, so those alternatives give Black more comfort than White should allow.
How many games feature the Elephant Gambit: Paulsen Countergambit?
Over 3 million Lichess games have reached the Elephant Gambit: Paulsen Countergambit position. White wins 45.1%, Black wins 51.5%, with 3.4% draws — based on real rated games.