Chessy
Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Alekhine – Playing 3.Bg5 as White
The Englund Gambit (1.d4 e5) is a tricky surprise weapon, and plenty of Black players hope you'll panic after 2...exd4. When you calmly develop with 3.Bg5, you enter the Reversed Alekhine variation — a line that looks unusual but is solidly playable for White. The engine gives this position -0.32, a tiny edge for Black, meaning you are slightly worse right out of the gate — but the statistics tell a more encouraging story. Across nearly 8,000 online games, White scores a healthy 50.8%, while Black wins only 45.2%. In other words, practical chances are excellent if you know what to do. The interactive drill below will teach you exactly how to handle Black's most common replies and punish their biggest mistakes.
Play the Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Alekhine: exd4 against the engine
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Create a free account →What You're Fighting For: The Dark-Squared Bishop
After 1.d4 e5 2.Nf3 exd4 3.Bg5, White's setup looks odd at first glance. You've pinned nothing yet, and you've moved a bishop twice before developing your other pieces. But the idea is simple: you're threatening to capture the pawn on d4 if Black carelessly advances ...f6 or moves the e7-bishop. More importantly, your dark-squared bishop is eyeing the f6-square and the kingside. If Black ever plays ...Nf6, you can trade it off, leaving Black with doubled f-pawns and a weakened king's shelter. The position remains closed for now, so you have time to complete development with moves like Nbd2, e3, and eventually recapturing on d4. Don't rush — your opponent has to prove they can hold onto that extra pawn.
The Critical Reply: Black's Best Move Is a Check
Stockfish's top recommendation for Black is Bb4+, immediately exploiting the fact that your queen is undefended on d1. The engine's full line runs: Bb4+ Nbd2 Be7 Bxe7. After the bishops are traded, Black retreats and you recapture — the position simplifies into a symmetrical-ish structure where your lead in development compensates for the missing pawn. This line scores respectably for both sides, and it's the benchmark you should understand. Most club players, however, don't know this. Instead, they will reach for one of the far more common — and far worse — replies below.
Black's Most Common Replies: What to Expect
Here's how the numbers break down in the Lichess database of 7,944 games at this exact position. The percentages are White's overall scoring rate (wins + half of draws): - f6 (3,177 games, White scores 49.3%): The most popular move, but it's an inaccuracy. Black tries to chase your bishop, but you can simply retreat or trade on f6. Your winning chances are almost even — good news for you. - Be7 (2,111 games, White scores 42.6%): A natural developing move that actually scores worst for White. Black gets to castle quickly. - Nf6 (1,562 games, White scores 43.5%): Also solid; Black develops with tempo. - Nc6 (572 games, White scores 83.9%): A blunder. Black develops the knight but leaves the d4-pawn hanging. - d5 (114 games, White scores 85.1%): Also a blunder. Black tries to stake a centre claim and loses material. - Bc5 (110 games, White scores 86.4%): Rare but disastrous for Black — White is winning almost nine times out of ten. Notice the pattern: the moves that ignore the immediate threat to d4 (Nc6, d5, Bc5) are crushing mistakes for Black.
Punish Black's Blunders: Nc6, d5, and Bc5
The engine quantifies just how bad these moves are. Compared to the correct Bb4+: - Nc6 loses about 5.8 pawns — a blunder. You can simply capture the d4-pawn with Nxd4, and Black has no compensation. White's 83.9% score reflects a near-decisive advantage. - d5 loses about 6.2 pawns — also a blunder. Again, Nxd4 wins a clean pawn, and Black's centre is a mess. White scores 85.1%. - Bc5 scores 86.4% for you, another disaster for Black. Whenever your opponent plays one of these moves, take a moment, calculate, and grab the pawn on d4. Your knight will be beautifully centralised on d4, and Black will have nothing to show for the sacrifice. The drill below will let you practise this exact scenario until it's automatic.
Handling the Tricky f6 and Be7 Lines
Most of your opponents will play f6 (by far the most common move) or Be7. Against f6, the engine suggests you retreat or exchange — the simplest approach is Bh4 or Bxf6. If you trade on f6, Black's king is stuck in the centre after ...gxf6, and your lead in development becomes meaningful. White scores a respectable 49.3% here despite being a pawn down — practical chances are fine. Against Be7, Black simply develops and prepares to castle. White scores only 42.6% here, the lowest of the main options. The engine's recommended line after Bb4+ shows you the ideal plan: trade dark-squared bishops and complete development quickly with Nbd2, then e3 to recapture on d4. Don't over-press; just play sound chess and trust that your activity offsets Black's extra pawn.
Results across 7,944 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| f6 | 3,177 | 49.3% |
| Be7 | 2,111 | 42.6% |
| Nf6 | 1,562 | 43.5% |
| Nc6 | 572 | 83.9% |
| d5 | 114 | 85.1% |
| Bc5 | 110 | 86.4% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Alekhine good for White?
Objectively, White is slightly worse at -0.32 on the engine evaluation. But in practice across 7,944 games, White wins 50.8% of the time. That means most club-level Black players don't know how to convert their theoretical edge. If you know the key ideas — especially punishing Nc6 and d5 — you'll score well above 50%.
What is Black's best move after 3.Bg5 in the Englund Gambit?
Stockfish's top move is Bb4+, immediately checking the White king and forcing Nbd2. After Black's bishop retreats to e7 and you trade bishops on e7, the position simplifies. Most Black players in practice don't find this, though — they play f6, Be7, or Nf6 instead.
How should White respond to 3...f6 in the Englund Gambit Declined?
The move f6 is an inaccuracy that loses about 0.6 pawns compared to the best move. Your simplest reply is Bh4 or Bxf6. If you take on f6, Black recaptures with the g-pawn, creating a damaged kingside structure. White scores 49.3% from here — nearly equal chances despite being down a pawn.
Why is 3...Nc6 a blunder in the Reversed Alekhine?
After 3.Bg5, if Black plays Nc6, the d4-pawn is undefended and you can simply take it with Nxd4. The engine rates this as a ~5.8-pawn blunder for Black. White scores an outstanding 83.9% from this position. Always be ready to snap off the d4-pawn whenever Black neglects it.