Chessy
French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation, Reuter Gambit
The Reuter Gambit is one of those sharp openings where White grabs space early, but Black gets a concrete target and a clear answer. After the opening moves, it is White to move in the drill, and your job as Black is to stay alert and meet the most natural tries with the right counter. The position is already favourable for you, so this is a good one to learn by repetition: recognise the recurring move choices, punish the mistakes, and keep the pressure on.
Play the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation, Reuter Gambit against the engine
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Create a free account →Why this position already works for Black
Stockfish rates this -1.11, a clear advantage for Black. That means you are already better here, so you should not treat this as a guessing game or a race to survive.
The practical message is simple: keep your pieces active, answer White’s most ambitious moves accurately, and do not let White build easy momentum. This is the kind of position where good defence becomes active play because the tactics and the piece placement both matter.
The move Black is aiming for
The engine's best move here is Ng5, and the listed continuation is Ng5 f5 d3 Nf6. That tells you what Black wants from the position: immediate pressure and a steady developing plan that keeps White under strain.
In the drill, you do not need to memorise a huge amount. Focus on recognising that this is the move the engine likes most, then use the follow-up idea as a model for how Black can keep control.
What White usually tries here
Across 151,124 games at this exact position, White wins 45.0%, draws 3.0%, and Black wins 52.1%. That is a healthy result for Black and confirms that the position is practical to play.
The most played continuations are Ne5 (77,107 games, White scores 46.8%), Ng5 (59,405 games, White scores 46.0%), Nd4 (4,777 games, White scores 28.4%), Ng1 (4,710 games, White scores 39.5%), Bc4 (2,359 games, White scores 29.3%), and Bb5+ (657 games, White scores 26.5%). In other words, White has several tries, but some of them score much worse than the main lines.
The moves you should punish hardest
Three White moves are marked as errors in this position, and that is very useful for training:
- Nd4 is a blunder and loses about 4.9 pawns; better was Ng5.
- Ng1 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.9 pawns; better was Ng5.
- Bc4 is a blunder and loses about 4.5 pawns; better was Ng5.
When one of these moves appears in the drill, treat it as a signal to stay calm and keep playing the best continuation. This is where a small edge can turn into a lasting one.
Results across 151,124 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Ne5 | 77,107 | 46.8% |
| Ng5 | 59,405 | 46.0% |
| Nd4 | 4,777 | 28.4% |
| Ng1 | 4,710 | 39.5% |
| Bc4 | 2,359 | 29.3% |
| Bb5+ | 657 | 26.5% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation, Reuter Gambit good for Black?
Yes. In the exact position after the opening moves, Stockfish rates it -1.11, a clear advantage for Black. The database results also support that, with Black winning 52.1% across 151,124 games.
What is the best move for Black in this position?
The engine's best move here is Ng5. The listed continuation is Ng5 f5 d3 Nf6, which gives you a practical model for handling White's next move.
Which White replies should I expect most often?
The most played continuations are Ne5 and Ng5, far more often than the rest. You should also be ready for Nd4, Ng1, Bc4, and Bb5+.
Which White moves are mistakes in this line?
Nd4 is a blunder, Ng1 is an inaccuracy, and Bc4 is a blunder. In each case, the better move listed is Ng5, so that is the move you should know well in the drill.
How many games feature the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation, Reuter Gambit?
Over 151K Lichess games have reached the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation, Reuter Gambit position. White wins 45.0%, Black wins 52.1%, with 3.0% draws — based on real rated games.