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Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System, Steinitz Countergambit — 3...dxc5 for Black
You've entered the Accelerated London System as Black, and White has just grabbed the c-pawn with 3.dxc5. You're now playing the Steinitz Countergambit — a sharp, dynamic response that immediately asks White a question: can they hold onto the extra pawn, or will their development suffer? Statistically, this is a terrific spot for you. Across over 77,000 games from this exact position, Black actually wins more than White: 52.7% to 43.6%, with only 3.7% draws. The engine rates things dead level at +0.01 — but the practical results tell a different story. Let's see why Black scores so well and how you can join them.
Play the Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System, Steinitz Countergambit: dxc5 against the engine
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Try the Steinitz Countergambit yourself — the interactive drill below puts you in this exact position as Black. Practice punishing White's mistakes and building
Create a free account →The Core Idea: Gambit Life
The Steinitz Countergambit isn't about recovering the pawn immediately — it's about activity. After 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 c5 3.dxc5 e6, you've sacrificed a pawn for a lead in development and central influence. Your dark-squared bishop will come to c5 with tempo, your queen can eye the kingside, and White's extra pawn on c5 can become a target rather than an asset. The key square to dominate is d4 — if you can prevent White from comfortably placing a knight there and instead post your own pieces actively, you'll find that the pawn deficit barely matters. This is a fighting opening that rewards aggressive, principled play.
The Engine's Path: Nf3
Stockfish's top choice for White is Nf3, continuing with Nf3 Bxc5 c4 Nf6. White develops sensibly, returns the pawn (or at least prepares to contest the centre with c4), and keeps the position symmetrical. From your perspective as Black, this leads to a balanced game — you've achieved equality out of the opening with zero risk. The engine's +0.01 confirms that this is a perfectly sound opening for you. When White plays Nf3, you simply develop: Bxc5, then Nf6, and you're ready to castle and play a normal position where your active pieces give you comfortable play.
Punish White's Mistakes
Three common White replies are outright errors, and you need to know how to capitalise. The most popular mistake is b4 (over 16,000 games) — a blunder that loses White roughly 2.0 pawns. The engine says c4 was better, but White often chases your bishop before it's even developed. Just play ...a5 or ...Bxb4? Actually, after b4, you simply play ...Bxb4 — you win a pawn and the game. Another frequent error is Qd4 (losing ~1.7 pawns). Here the queen is exposed on d4; you can chase it with ...Nc6 or ...Be7 and gain time while White's queen wanders. Finally, Bxb8 is an inaccuracy (losing ~0.7 pawns). White trades a bishop for your knight on b8, but after ...Rxb8 you have the rook on an open b-file and the bishop pair. In all three cases, you come out ahead — the statistics confirm it, with White scoring just 40-41% in those lines.
Quick Reference: White's Options at a Glance
Here's how the most-played moves stack up for White, ordered by frequency, along with how you should respond and what the data says: - e3 (most common, 20,609 games): Passive. White solidifies but wastes a tempo. Black scores well — just develop naturally with ...Bxc5 and ...Nf6. - b4 (16,451 games, a mistake): Punish immediately with ...Bxb4, winning a clean pawn. - Nf3 (10,906 games, engine-best): Balanced. Play ...Bxc5 ...Nf6, and you're equal. - Nc3 (9,869 games): Develops but blocks the c-pawn. You can play ...Bxc5 and ...Nf6, or consider ...a6 to threaten ...b5. - Bxb8 (3,977 games, inaccuracy): Recapture with ...Rxb8 and enjoy the bishop pair. - Qd4 (2,999 games, mistake): Attack the queen with ...Nc6, gaining time, and follow up with ...Bxc5.
Results across 77,056 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e3 | 20,609 | 45.9% |
| b4 | 16,451 | 40.1% |
| Nf3 | 10,906 | 45.3% |
| Nc3 | 9,869 | 44.5% |
| Bxb8 | 3,977 | 41.0% |
| Qd4 | 2,999 | 40.8% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Steinitz Countergambit sound for Black?
Absolutely. The engine rates the position at +0.01 — dead level — and Black wins 52.7% of games from this exact position in the Lichess database. It's a sound gambit that gives you excellent practical chances without any inherent risk.
What should I do if White plays b4?
Celebrate quietly — it's a mistake that loses roughly 2.0 pawns. You simply capture with ...Bxb4, winning a pawn. White's early pawn push only weakens their queenside, and you'll be up material with active pieces.
Which move should I fear most from White?
The engine's best reply is Nf3, which leads to a balanced game after ...Bxc5 c4 Nf6. You shouldn't fear it — you're equal — but it's the line where White makes the fewest concessions. The more popular moves like e3 and Nc3 are less testing.
Why does Black score so well if the position is equal?
The position is objectively equal, but White's practical choices are often inferior. Moves like b4, Qd4, and Bxb8 are errors that Black can punish immediately. Even the safe-looking e3 is slightly passive, giving Black comfortable play. The statistics reflect that White misplays this position more often than Black does.
How many games feature the Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System, Steinitz Countergambit: dxc5?
Over 77K Lichess games have reached the Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System, Steinitz Countergambit: dxc5 position. White wins 43.6%, Black wins 52.7%, with 3.7% draws — based on real rated games.