Chessy
Indian Defense: Paleface Attack, Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Deferred
This line asks Black a direct question very early: will they take the central pawn and keep the extra material, or choose a calmer reply and let White keep the initiative? The position after 1.d4 Nf6 2.f3 d5 3.e4 is sharp and unusual, but the practical lesson is simple: know the engine’s answer, recognise the common replies, and punish the frequent inaccuracies. Use the drill below to test whether you can handle the main choice under pressure.
Play the Indian Defense: Paleface Attack, Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Deferred against the engine
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Create a free account →What the position is really about
After 1.d4 Nf6 2.f3 d5 3.e4, White has staked a lot on rapid central play. The opening is not about slow manoeuvring; it is about whether White’s extra space and central pawns can justify the weakened king and the delayed development. Black is to move in the drill position, and the critical habit is to stay alert to the central tension rather than make a routine developing move.
The engine’s clear answer
Stockfish rates this -0.77, a clear, lasting advantage for Black. That means you are already worse here.
The engine’s best move is dxe4, and the continuation given is dxe4 Nc3 exf3 Nxf3. In other words, Black’s most reliable reaction is to take the pawn and meet the resulting structure without hesitation.
What the database says players choose
The most-played continuation is dxe4, with 86,190 games and White scoring 44.5%. Other common replies are e6, with 12,300 games and White scoring 45.2%; Nc6, with 7,678 games and White scoring 46.0%; c6, with 4,209 games and White scoring 49.8%; c5, with 1,391 games and White scoring 42.8%; and g6, with 1,225 games and White scoring 47.3%.
The big takeaway is that Black has many practical choices, but the position is not easy for White to convert into a full attack.
The moves to punish most often
There are a few replies you should especially know from the drill.
- e6 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.9 pawns; better was dxe4.
- Nc6 is a mistake and loses about 1.2 pawns; better was dxe4.
- c6 is a mistake and loses about 1.2 pawns; better was dxe4.
That means you should be ready to answer passive central choices with energetic play and not assume every developing move is safe.
Results across 116,057 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| dxe4 | 86,190 | 44.5% |
| e6 | 12,300 | 45.2% |
| Nc6 | 7,678 | 46.0% |
| c6 | 4,209 | 49.8% |
| c5 | 1,391 | 42.8% |
| g6 | 1,225 | 47.3% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Indian Defense: Paleface Attack, Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Deferred good for White?
The numbers here do not support White. Stockfish gives -0.77, which is a clear, lasting advantage for Black, and the database also shows White scoring 45.1% versus Black’s 51.5% across 116,057 games at this exact position.
What is Black’s best move here?
The engine’s best move is dxe4. The listed continuation is dxe4 Nc3 exf3 Nxf3, so Black’s main job is to take the pawn and keep the structure under control.
Which replies are most common in practice?
The most-played continuation is dxe4, by a wide margin. Other common replies are e6, Nc6, c6, c5, and g6, so the drill should help you recognise these practical choices quickly.
Which replies should I be ready to punish?
The database marks e6 as an inaccuracy and Nc6 and c6 as mistakes, all with dxe4 as the better move. That makes central accuracy the key lesson in this position.
How many games feature the Indian Defense: Paleface Attack, Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Deferred?
Over 116K Lichess games have reached the Indian Defense: Paleface Attack, Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Deferred position. White wins 45.1%, Black wins 51.5%, with 3.5% draws — based on real rated games.