Breaking all the rules with the Englund Gambit • page 1/2 • Community Blog Discussions • lichess.org

Comments on https://lichess.org/@/totalnoob69/blog/breaking-all-the-rules-with-the-englund-gambit/j4DfAGGC

I faced this gambit in Classical games 2 times (one OTB and once Online) and won on both times as I knew how to refute this gambit. Against a prepared opponent , this is a dubious gambit I feel. Stockfish even terms the first move as an outright blunder !

I will say something like Smith-Morra is a more respected Gambit out there !

I faced this gambit in Classical games 2 times (one OTB and once Online) and won on both times as I knew how to refute this gambit. Against a prepared opponent , this is a dubious gambit I feel. Stockfish even terms the first move as an outright blunder ! I will say something like Smith-Morra is a more respected Gambit out there !

TotalNoob69

@jose684 I totally agree. The point of the post was not how to win decisively with the Englund, but how to have a lot of fun with it.

jose684

Thanks for clarifying @TotalNoob69

AlimstsAL123

Me vs Stockfish 1

https://lichess.org/hJ2yCpKH/black

Me vs Stockfish 1 https://lichess.org/hJ2yCpKH/black

AlimstsAL123

@jose684
Actually it's an inaccuracy but same point.

@jose684 Actually it's an inaccuracy but same point.

alnoth

i play this opening every chance i get. i do mostly play bullet, so take it with a pinch of salt if you must - however, my opponent are also bullet players so i guess we are on even grounds here...

im running OpeningTree to see the stats, but before they load here's my approach:

i do NOT play for the opening traps. firstly, i'd have to memorize them, secondly if the opponent has them memorized too it's no use. im thinking along these lines - a player just played d4, which means he wants a closed or semi closed game, maybe London, maybe some version of queen's gambit. London is unplayable because it just loses a bishop on move 3 (which does happen - those london players just pre-move like nothing can touch them). they are well advised to take the gambited e5 pawn but its all open range shooting from there - so i take them out of their comfort zone into playing on open board.

after they presumably take on e5 (everything else just gives black an edge) i play d6 and just continue to play a pawn down, with slightly more development and an open board.

i have had countless discussion about how the opening is unplayable and just right down losing... but im no GM and never will be.

i don't know how to put a screenshot into this chat, but my OpeningTree analysis says:

against average opponent rating of 2131, my win rate with black after 1.d4 e5 2.exd5 is 52.1% with a performance rating of 2145. My best win being vs a 2975 and the worst loss to a 1548 - those are likely some silly blunders of course. these stats are from 800+ games, so i think statistically significant.

so i'd say at my rating - 2050 - 2100ish - it is very much playable even without the opening tricks

i play this opening every chance i get. i do mostly play bullet, so take it with a pinch of salt if you must - however, my opponent are also bullet players so i guess we are on even grounds here... im running OpeningTree to see the stats, but before they load here's my approach: i do NOT play for the opening traps. firstly, i'd have to memorize them, secondly if the opponent has them memorized too it's no use. im thinking along these lines - a player just played d4, which means he wants a closed or semi closed game, maybe London, maybe some version of queen's gambit. London is unplayable because it just loses a bishop on move 3 (which does happen - those london players just pre-move like nothing can touch them). they are well advised to take the gambited e5 pawn but its all open range shooting from there - so i take them out of their comfort zone into playing on open board. after they presumably take on e5 (everything else just gives black an edge) i play d6 and just continue to play a pawn down, with slightly more development and an open board. i have had countless discussion about how the opening is unplayable and just right down losing... but im no GM and never will be. i don't know how to put a screenshot into this chat, but my OpeningTree analysis says: against average opponent rating of 2131, my win rate with black after 1.d4 e5 2.exd5 is 52.1% with a performance rating of 2145. My best win being vs a 2975 and the worst loss to a 1548 - those are likely some silly blunders of course. these stats are from 800+ games, so i think statistically significant. so i'd say at my rating - 2050 - 2100ish - it is very much playable even without the opening tricks

alnoth edited

i played a game against stockfish lvl 4, but of course at that level it just hangs stuff...

https://lichess1.org/game/export/gif/black/RQ0YJYp1.gif?theme=olive&piece=staunty

i played super carelessly and dropped a knight myself but stockfish 4 didn't notice, oh well...

i played a game against stockfish lvl 4, but of course at that level it just hangs stuff... https://lichess1.org/game/export/gif/black/RQ0YJYp1.gif?theme=olive&piece=staunty i played super carelessly and dropped a knight myself but stockfish 4 didn't notice, oh well...