Chessy
Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Alekhine — play White confidently
After 1.d4 e5 2.Nf3, you are in a sharp offbeat position where Black must decide how to react to your setup. Stockfish rates this -0.30, a small edge for Black. That means you are slightly worse here, so the goal is not to bluff your way through — it is to meet the position calmly, spot the main idea, and know which replies are most likely to come up in the drill below. The move trainer will help you handle the critical choices and avoid the common inaccuracies.
Play the Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Alekhine against the engine
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Create a free account →What this position is really about
This opening is less about memorising a long line and more about understanding the shape of the position after 1.d4 e5 2.Nf3. Black is to move, and your task as White is to stay organised while keeping the position under control. The engine’s best move is e4, which shows the central idea behind the position: take space, support your pieces, and keep your setup active. If you know the key plans here, you will handle the most common replies with much more confidence.
What the engine wants you to know
Stockfish rates this -0.30, a small edge for Black. That means you are slightly worse here. This is not a disaster, but it does mean you should treat the opening as a practical test: develop smoothly, respect the central tension, and do not help Black simplify into an easy game. The drill is useful because the best continuation is not forced by a trap; it is about choosing the right central reaction and staying accurate.
The moves you will see most often
The database shows a very large sample here: across 2,042,283 games, White wins 47.4%, draws 3.7%, and Black wins 49.0%. The most-played continuation is e4 with 932,527 games, where White scores 44.6%. Other common choices are exd4 with 673,581 games, Nc6 with 173,949 games, d6 with 113,833 games, f6 with 31,581 games, and Qe7 with 25,349 games. That means you need to be ready for both central tension and quieter developing moves.
The mistakes to punish
The database flags three moves here as mistakes: Nc6, d6, and f6. All three are listed as losing about the same amount of material, and in each case the better move was e4. For a practical player, that is a very helpful guide: if Black chooses one of these moves, you should recognise that the position is already off track for them and keep your pieces active. The drill will train that recognition so you can respond quickly instead of drifting.
Results across 2,042,283 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e4 | 932,527 | 44.6% |
| exd4 | 673,581 | 48.0% |
| Nc6 | 173,949 | 49.7% |
| d6 | 113,833 | 50.3% |
| f6 | 31,581 | 53.5% |
| Qe7 | 25,349 | 48.7% |
Frequently asked questions
What should I aim for in the Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Alekhine?
As White, your main task is to stay sensible and use the central chances in the position. The engine’s best move is e4, so central play is the key idea to understand. You are slightly worse according to Stockfish, so accuracy matters more than trying to force tactics.
Is this opening good for White?
Not really in this exact position. Stockfish rates it -0.30, a small edge for Black, so you are slightly worse. That does not mean you cannot play it, but you should know that Black has the more comfortable position if you are careless.
Which reply is most common after 1.d4 e5 2.Nf3?
The most-played continuation is e4, with 932,527 games. It is also the engine’s best move here, so you should expect to meet it often in the drill. Learning that response well will cover a huge amount of practical experience.
Which Black moves are the main mistakes here?
The database marks Nc6, d6, and f6 as mistakes. In all three cases, the better move was e4, and each mistake loses about the same amount of material. If you see one of those moves, you can be confident that Black has chosen an inferior path.
How many games feature the Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Alekhine?
Over 2 million Lichess games have reached the Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Alekhine position. White wins 47.4%, Black wins 49.0%, with 3.7% draws — based on real rated games.