Chessy
Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Krebs for Black
After 1.d4 e5 2.Nf3 e4, you get a position where White must choose a plan immediately. Your job as Black is simple: meet the central space grab with calm development and punish loose moves. The starting position is not a disaster for you — in fact, the engine gives you a small edge — but the drill below is where that advantage becomes real. Train the key replies, spot the inaccuracies, and learn which White moves let you keep the pressure.
Play the Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Krebs against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Play the drill now and practise the key replies against White’s most common tries. Create a free account to track your progress and build confidence with Black.
Create a free account →What this opening is trying to do
The Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Krebs creates an early imbalance with Black advancing the e-pawn twice. White is pushed into a decision: hold the centre, develop normally, or go hunting for active squares. That makes this a practical opening for Black players who want an immediate fight and are happy to steer the game into an unusual structure. Your main goal is not to memorise long lines, but to stay organised and make White justify every move.
The engine’s message in the first position
Stockfish rates this -0.25, a small edge in your favour for Black. That means you are slightly better here. The database also shows that this position is very playable in practice: across 929,741 games, White wins 44.8%, draws 3.2%, and Black wins 52.0%. So you are not relying on a gimmick — you are reaching a position where Black has scored well and the position can reward accurate play.
Best response to learn first
The engine’s best move is Nfd2, and the continuation given is Nfd2 Nf6 c4 c6. That is the main line to absorb in the drill, because it shows the kind of structure Black wants: active piece development and solid central support. When White chooses this move, be ready to answer with simple development rather than drifting. The practical lesson is to stay calm, keep your pieces working, and let White prove the compensation for their setup.
White’s most common tries and what they mean
The most-played continuation is Nfd2, with 468,121 games, and White scores 46.5% there. Other common tries are Ne5, with 225,761 games and White scoring 42.7%; Ng5, with 125,641 games and White scoring 44.0%; and Ng1, with 87,116 games and White scoring 45.4%. The smaller sample moves Bg5, with 9,365 games and White scoring 35.3%, and Nh4, with 3,521 games and White scoring 20.8%, are less common but show that some active ideas can backfire badly if Black stays alert.
The mistakes you want to punish
This position has a clear pattern of errors to watch for. Ng5 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.5 pawns, with Nfd2 being better. Bg5 is a mistake and loses about 2.2 pawns, again with Nfd2 being better. Nh4 is a blunder and loses about 4.6 pawns, with Nfd2 still the better move. In other words, if White moves a knight or bishop too aggressively without a real plan, your task is to stay precise and use the time that White has wasted.
Results across 929,741 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nfd2 | 468,121 | 46.5% |
| Ne5 | 225,761 | 42.7% |
| Ng5 | 125,641 | 44.0% |
| Ng1 | 87,116 | 45.4% |
| Bg5 | 9,365 | 35.3% |
| Nh4 | 3,521 | 20.8% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Krebs good for Black?
In this position, yes: the engine gives Black a small edge with -0.25. The database results also show Black scoring 52.0%, so the opening is clearly playable if you handle the position correctly. It is best treated as an active practical weapon, not a forced win.
What should I do first as Black after 1.d4 e5 2.Nf3 e4?
Learn the engine’s best move in the resulting position: Nfd2. The listed continuation is Nfd2 Nf6 c4 c6, which gives you a solid model for development. In the drill, focus on making your pieces active and keeping the position under control.
Which White moves are the biggest problems for White here?
The database shows several moves, but the warning signs are clear. Ng5 is an inaccuracy, Bg5 is a mistake, and Nh4 is a blunder. Those moves all score worse than the main try Nfd2, so you should be ready to punish over-ambition.
What is the main plan for Black in this opening?
Play a sensible developmental game and do not panic about White’s early move choices. The engine line points you toward Nfd2 Nf6 c4 c6, which is a good reminder that this is about piece activity and structure, not quick tricks. If White becomes greedy or too adventurous, your position becomes even more comfortable.
How many games feature the Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Krebs?
Over 929K Lichess games have reached the Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Krebs position. White wins 44.8%, Black wins 52.0%, with 3.2% draws — based on real rated games.