Chessy
Englund Gambit Declined: Diemer Counterattack — Black's Sharp Reply
After 1.d4 e5 2.d5 Bc5 3.e4, most White players expect a quiet slow-game. But 3...Qh4! throws a wrench into everything. You're not trying to refute the opening in one move — you're attacking the e4-pawn and asking White to solve a real problem. The stats don't lie: across nearly 39,000 games, Black scores a thumping 58.4% from this position. The engine calls it dead level (+0.14), but human players keep cracking under the pressure. Let's see why, and how you can be the one applying that pressure.
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Your queen on h4 serves two clear purposes. First, it pins the e4-pawn to the king — White can't simply push forward without thinking. Second, it limits White's developing moves: many natural squares for the knight (like f3) are off-limits because they hang the queen, and pushing g3 would be a blunder. Your underlying goal is to follow up with ...d6, opening lines for your light-squared bishop while keeping the centre closed. If White mishandles the position, you'll get a quick attack. If they play accurately, you still have a comfortable, easy-to-play position with no structural weaknesses.
White's Best Try: Qe2
The engine's top choice is 4.Qe2, which directly defends the e4-pawn and attacks your queen. After 4...d6 5.Nc3 a6, Black has a solid setup: you'll castle kingside, develop your pieces, and enjoy a perfectly playable middlegame. White scores only 47.1% from this line — meaning you outscore them even against the best move. Your queen will eventually retreat to e7 or find a safe diagonal, but the immediate threat is neutralised without losing time. This is the line to study if you want a sound, principled version of the Diemer Counterattack.
Punish the Mistakes
Many White players panic and lash out with one of several terrible moves. The stats are brutal for them: if White tries 4.g3 (a blunder, losing ~3.6 pawns), their score drops to 20.2%. That's Black winning four out of five games. The simple reply is 4...Qxe4+, winning a pawn and forcing White's king to move. Another common error is 4.Nh3 (a mistake, losing ~2.2 pawns; White scores 33.6%). Here you can take on e4 or simply continue with ...d6 and laugh at the knight on h3. And 4.Be3 (a blunder, losing ~4.3 pawns; White scores 28.0%) walks into 4...Bxe3, wrecking White's pawn structure after 5.fxe3 Qxe4+. Watch out for 4.Nf3 as well — it's not flagged as a mistake in the database but White scores just 21.5% there, so your queen simply retreats to e7 or h5 and you're already better.
Your Game Plan Against Qf3
The most popular continuation by far is 4.Qf3, seen in 16,000+ games. White defends the e4-pawn and attacks your queen. Don't panic — your queen can retreat to h5 or e7. Your best plan is the same: play ...d6, develop your pieces, and castle. White's queen on f3 is actually a bit clumsy here — it can be harassed later by ...Nf6 and ...Be6 ideas. White scores just 45.5% in this line, so you're already scoring above 50% against the most common response. The key is to stay calm, not chase a quick knockout, and trust that your position has no weaknesses while White's queen might become a target.
Results across 38,789 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Qf3 | 16,078 | 45.5% |
| Qe2 | 9,804 | 47.1% |
| g3 | 6,706 | 20.2% |
| Nh3 | 2,074 | 33.6% |
| Be3 | 1,642 | 28.0% |
| Nf3 | 1,063 | 21.5% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Diemer Counterattack a good opening for beginners?
Yes. It's easy to learn because you're following a simple idea: attack the e4-pawn with your queen and then play ...d6. You don't need to memorise long theory. The statistics show Black scores 58.4% overall, so it's very practical at club level.
What if White plays g3 against the Diemer Counterattack?
That's great news for you. 4.g3 is a blunder that loses roughly 3.6 pawns. You simply take on e4 with check: 4...Qxe4+. White's king must move, and you'll have a free pawn and a safer king — White scores only 20.2% from this position.
Is the Diemer Counterattack sound at master level?
The engine evaluates the position at +0.14, which is essentially dead equal. Top players wouldn't touch it because White can play 4.Qe2 and keep a tiny theoretical edge, but for human play it's perfectly sound. You're not losing out of the opening.
What's the main difference between the Englund Gambit and the Diemer Counterattack?
In the normal Englund Gambit (1.d4 e5 2.dxe5), Black sacrifices a pawn. The Diemer Counterattack (1.d4 e5 2.d5 Bc5 3.e4 Qh4) is a gambit that keeps the pawn — you're fighting for the centre and attacking immediately, not giving up material.
How many games feature the Englund Gambit Declined: Diemer Counterattack?
Over 38K Lichess games have reached the Englund Gambit Declined: Diemer Counterattack position. White wins 38.3%, Black wins 58.4%, with 3.3% draws — based on real rated games.