← Danish Gambit

Practice: Schlechter Defense (3...d6)

Solid decline with d6

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.

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
♟

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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.

Tips

  • 3...d6 is a solid, classical defence — Black keeps the centre closed and develops
  • White gets the pawn back but Black has a solid, defensible position
  • Named after the great Austrian GM Carl Schlechter who used this to neutralise the Danish

About this line

This line is rated intermediate. Practice it repeatedly until you can play the entire sequence without thinking. The in-app trainer tracks your perfect streaks and celebrates milestones.