Englund Gambit

Black offers their e-pawn. The Englund gambit is considered unsound: against best play, Black will not get enough compensation for the pawn. It is therefore rare in tournament chess, but it is not uncommon in amateur games where Black wants an open, tactical game with sharp traps and practical chances.

2. dxe5 to accept the gambit capitalises on Black's dubious move. White challenges Black to find compensation. The main line continues with 2...Nc6 3. Nf6 Qe7 4. Bf4, and Black invites White to blunder with the manoeuvre ...Qb4+ &...Qxb2, but if White plays carefully this is toothless. 2...d6, letting the pawn go in return for an open centre and development, is the main side line.

Declining the gambit gives an even game. White can allow Black to take on d4―2. e3!? exd4 (the Reversed French), 2. c4?! exd4, etc.―and open the position, or push the pawn 2. d5!? to keep the position closed.

2. Nf3!?, the Reversed Alekhine, allows 2...e5 to kick the knight. 2. e4 transposes into the Centre game (1. e4 e5 2. d4).

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1. d4 e5?

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Wikipedia has related information at Englund Gambit

• Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999.John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.
• Modern Chess Openings: MCO-14. 1999. Nick de Firmian, Walter Korn. ISBN 0-8129-3084-3.
• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.