← All Openings

Danish Gambit C21

Two pawns for rapid development

Final position of the Danish Gambit main line

Danish Gambit Accepted

White sacrifices two pawns to get two bishops bearing down on the kingside. A romantic 19th-century gambit that still catches unprepared opponents at club level.

The Danish Gambit is a Romantic-era classic that sacrifices up to two pawns for a devastating attack. It's perfect for blitz and rapid games where opponents are unlikely to know the precise defensive moves. Even if Black returns the pawns, White ends up with strong active piece play.

Key strategic ideas

  • White sacrifices up to two pawns (first the c-pawn, then the b-pawn) to get two bishops pointing at the kingside for a fast attack.
  • After 3...dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2, White has immediate threats of Bxf7+ and Qb3. Black must defend precisely.
  • Even if Black returns the pawns, White ends up with active development and attacking chances. The gambit is sound enough for casual play.

Common mistakes & traps

  • If Black plays badly: 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 Nf6? 6.e5! d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.Qh5. White has a winning attack.
  • Black's safest response is 5...d5! immediately, returning one pawn to break White's centre and equalise comfortably.

Pawn structure notes

White gives up the c- and b-pawns, leaving an e4-d4 centre against Black's extra pawns on the queenside. White's bishops are powerful on the open long diagonals, especially the one on b2.

Name origin

Named after Danish chess players who analysed the gambit in the 1860s. The opening became famous through the romantic attacking games of the 19th century and was featured in many classic brilliancies.

Famous practitioners & games

Adolf Anderssen, Joseph Henry Blackburne, Martin Ortueta

Adolf Anderssen vs Paul Morphy
Paris (casual game) · 1858 · 0-1

Morphy refuted Anderssen's Danish Gambit in one of their famous casual games, demonstrating the risk of overextending.

Lines

Danish Gambit Accepted intermediate
1. e4 e5
2. d4 exd4
3. c3 dxc3
4. Bc4 cxb2
5. Bxb2
Black takes both pawns. White gets two bishops pointed at the kingside and rapid development - a classic gambit position.
Practice
Danish Gambit Declined (Sörensen) intermediate
1. e4 e5
2. d4 exd4
3. c3 d5
Black declines the second pawn with ...d5, countering in the centre. A solid way to defuse the gambit.
Practice
Classical Defense (6…Nf6) intermediate
1. e4 e5
2. d4 exd4
3. c3 dxc3
4. Bc4 cxb2
5. Bxb2 d5
6. Bxd5 Nf6
Black returns one of the pawns with 5…d5, breaking White’s centre. The bishop retreats to d5 and Black attacks it immediately with 6…Nf6. The soundest defence to the Danish.
Practice
3...Nf6 Variation intermediate
1. e4 e5
2. d4 exd4
3. c3 Nf6
4. e5 Nd5
5. cxd4 d6
6. Nf3 Bg4
7. Be2 dxe5
8. Nxe5 Bxe2
9. Qxe2 Nc6
Black ignores the gambit pawn and develops the knight to f6. After 4.e5 Nd5 5.cxd4, White has a strong centre but Black's knight is actively placed on d5.
Practice
Schlechter Defense (3...d6) intermediate
1. e4 e5
2. d4 exd4
3. c3 d6
4. Bc4 Nf6
5. Nf3 Nc6
6. cxd4 Bg4
7. Nc3 Be7
8. d5 Na5
9. Bb5+ c6
10. dxc6 bxc6
11. Be2
Black defends the d4 pawn with ...d6 instead of capturing with ...dxc3. A solid positional approach that returns the pawn for a safe, equal position.
Practice