Chessy
The Indian Defense: Anti-Grünfeld, Adorjan Gambit
After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6, most players expect a quiet Grünfeld or King's Indian. But when you throw in 3.d5 b5!, you're already telling your opponent you're here to fight. This is the Adorjan Gambit — a sharp line of the Anti-Grünfeld where Black offers a pawn for activity and counterplay. The engine calls this +0.17, which is practically dead level (a tiny edge for White on paper). But the real story is in the results: across 383 games, Black wins 56.7% of the time. White only wins 39.2%. That's a serious practical score, and it tells you that most White players mishandle the position. Let's see how you can help them do exactly that.
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The Adorjan Gambit is all about space and piece activity. By playing 3...b5, you challenge White's centre immediately and open lines on the queenside. The pawn on d5 cramps White's position — their pieces have fewer good squares, especially the light-squared bishop and the knight on b1. Meanwhile, your own bishops are about to get clear diagonals. If White accepts the gambit with 4.cxb5, you continue with 4...a6 5.bxa6 c6 — and suddenly you've got a semi-open a-file, a strong pawn centre with ...d6 to follow, and easy development. Black's position is very comfortable to play, while White has to navigate a tricky pawn-up scenario where all your pieces have more say than theirs.
The Engine's Path — and Why White Often Avoids It
Stockfish says 4.cxb5 is White's best move. But here's the key: even in that line, you get excellent compensation. After 4...a6 5.bxa6 c6, you're down a pawn but your pieces develop naturally while White's queen's knight is awkward and the b2 pawn can become a target. And crucially, most White players don't choose this path. Among the five most-played replies, only 70 games saw 4.cxb5. The vast majority of opponents pick something else — and that's where your winning chances spike.
Punishing White's Most Common Mistakes
The statistics are crystal clear about what White should NOT do here. The most popular move is 4.b3 (105 games), but Stockfish calls it a mistake that loses about 1.4 pawns. That's a huge blunder for White. After 4.b3, you can take over: consider ...Bb7, ...d6, and ...c6 to challenge the d5 pawn. Black scores 62.9% from this position. Similarly, 4.e3 (72 games) is an inaccuracy costing about 0.5 pawns — White scores just 30.6% here. And 4.c5 (58 games) is the worst of all, a mistake losing about 1.7 pawns, with White winning only 37.9% of games. The lesson: be patient. Most opponents will hand you an advantage.
How to Handle the Best Replies
If White does find 4.cxb5, you're entering the main line. After 4...a6 5.bxa6 c6, the position is rich and imbalanced. You have a half-open a-file for your rook, the ...c6 break challenges White's d5 outpost, and your pieces have natural homes: the bishop goes to b7, the knight to ...Nxd5 if White ever takes, and you can follow with ...Bg7 and ...0-0. If White instead tries 4.Nc3 (41 games, White scores 36.6%), you can simply develop with ...Bb7 and ...d6, keeping the tension. Remember: the engine evaluation is barely meaningful here — your practical results are excellent regardless of which move White chooses.
Results across 383 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| b3 | 105 | 37.1% |
| e3 | 72 | 30.6% |
| cxb5 | 70 | 55.7% |
| c5 | 58 | 37.9% |
| Nc3 | 41 | 36.6% |
| Bg5 | 10 | 50.0% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Adorjan Gambit sound?
From an engine perspective, Stockfish rates it +0.17, which is essentially equal — a trivial edge for White that doesn't matter at club level. The real test is practical play, and Black's results are outstanding: 56.7% wins across 383 games.
What if White accepts the gambit with 4.cxb5?
That's the engine's recommendation, but Black gets excellent play. After 4...a6 5.bxa6 c6, you have active piece play, a semi-open a-file, and clear development plans. White wins only 55.7% of games in this line — low for a pawn-up scenario.
What should I do against 4.b3?
Be happy — 4.b3 is a mistake that loses about 1.4 pawns. Black scores 62.9% from here. Develop naturally with ...Bb7 and ...d6, and consider ...c6 to attack the d5 pawn centre. Don't rush; White's position is already worse.
What does Black's typical middlegame look like?
You'll usually have a queenside initiative with pressure on the a- and b-files. Your light-squared bishop on b7 is a monster, and the d5 pawn can become a target. Plan around ...c6 breaks, and aim to open lines against White's king if they castle short.