Danish Gambit & Centre Game

Romantic chess at its purest: sacrifice two pawns to unleash the bishops on b2 and c4 against the enemy king.

The Danish Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2) is the romantic opening par excellence. White gives two queenside pawns to aim two powerful bishops at Black's weak points f7 and g7. The course also covers the Centre Game (2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4) and the main defences, such as Schlechter's 5...d5.

Chapter 1: Danish Gambit Accepted

How to lead the attack with the two bishops aimed at the enemy king, and how to meet the defences ...Nf6, ...Bb4+, ...Qe7, ...d6, ...f6 and ...c6.

  1. Danish Gambit Accepted: 5...Nf6 6.e5 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 Nf6…
  2. Danish Gambit - In-between Check 5...Bb4+ 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 Bb4+…
  3. Danish Gambit - 5...Qe7 Defence 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 Qe7…
  4. Danish Gambit - Punishing the Passive 5...d6 with 6.Qb3 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 d6…
  5. Danish Gambit with One Pawn (4.Nxc3) 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6…
  6. Danish Gambit - Punishing the Weakening 5...f6? 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 f6…
  7. Danish Gambit - Meeting 5...c6 and ...d5 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 c6…
  8. Danish Gambit Declined - Punishing 3...Qe7 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 Qe7 4.cxd4 Qxe4+ 5.Be3 Nf6…

Chapter 2: Schlechter Defence (5...d5!), 3...d5 Declined & Centre Game

Schlechter's classical defence, how to react when the gambit is declined, and the Centre Game with 3.Qxd4.

  1. Danish Gambit - Schlechter Defence (5...d5) 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 d5…
  2. Classical Centre Game (3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3) 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4…
  3. Centre Game - 4.Qa4 Variation 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qa4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bc5…
  4. Centre Game against the ...g6 Fianchetto 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 g6 5.Bd2 Bg7…
  5. Danish Gambit Declined with 3...d5 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.cxd4 Nc6…
  6. The Halasz Gambit (3.f4) 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.f4 Bc5 4.Nf3 d6 5.c3 dxc3…
  7. Centre Game Declined with 2...d6 1.e4 e5 2.d4 d6 3.dxe5 dxe5 4.Qxd8+ Kxd8 5.Bc4 Ke8…
  8. Centre Game - Punishing the Early 3...Qf6 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Qf6…