Openings 1.d4 d5: closed games
Blackmar-Diemer Gambit: Lines, Plans and Stats by Rating
2.e4 gives up a pawn. After 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 White has the half-open f-file, fast development and attacking chances in return. It is a favorite of club attackers and rarely seen at the top.
D00Blackmar-Diemer Gambit
Games from this position (1600–1999): 11k
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
| Move | Played | Games | White · Draw · Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 79% | 8,801 | ||
| 9% | 1,038 | ||
| 3% | 371 | ||
| 3% | 302 | ||
| 2% | 253 | ||
| 2% | 235 | ||
| 0.9% | 103 |
Plans for both sides
White
- Develop fast: Nxf3, Bd3 or Bc4, O-O, then Qe1 and Qh4 or Qg3 to bring everything toward the king.
- The half-open f-file and the f7 square are your targets; Rxf6 sacrifices are a common idea.
- Against side lines like the Lemberger 3...e5 or 4...Bf5, keep developing rather than chasing material.
Black
- 5...Bg4 (Teichmann) is the most common answer, and 5...g6 (Bogoljubow) scores best for Black here, with White at only about 46%.
- 5...e6 (Euwe) is natural but gives White the attack it wants: White scores about 60% after it.
- Declining with 2...e6 (a French) or 2...c6 (a Caro-Kann) avoids the gambit altogether.
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Blackmar-Diemer Gambit at each rating
How often the position after 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.
| Rating | Games (Share of games) | White · Draw · Black | Top next move |
|---|---|---|---|
| <1200 | 1,894<0.1% | 4...exf372% | |
| 1200–1599 | 6,8390.1% | 4...exf379% | |
| 1600–1999 | 11k0.2% | 4...exf379% | |
| 2000+ | 3,0620.2% | 4...exf370% | |
| All | 23k0.1% | 4...exf377% |
What usually comes next
The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.
Main variations
Black trades the bishop for the f3 knight to cut down White’s attackers.
512 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 58%, 4% were drawn, Black won 38%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 Bg4 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 c6Solid-looking, but the c8 bishop is shut in and White’s pieces flow toward the king.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 e6 6.Bg5 Be7 7.Bd3The g7 bishop guards the king and hits d4; White attacks with Qe1–h4 and Bh6.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 g6 6.Bc4 Bg7 7.O-O O-OBlack hits back in the center at once. White scores only about 48% after it, so know 4.Nxe4, 4.dxe5 and 4.d5.
1,627 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 45%, 4% were drawn, Black won 50%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 e5The older move order without Nc3. Most players take with 3...exf3.
11k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 51%, 4% were drawn, Black won 46%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.f3
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At club level
At every level about seven in ten accept the pawn with 2...dxe4. After 5.Nxf3, 5...Bg4 is the most common answer and 5...e6 is next, but White scores about 60% against 5...e6 and only about 46% against 5...g6.
Practice it
The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.
Related openings
- Queen’s Pawn Game: 1.d4 d5
1.d4 d5
- Queen’s Gambit
1.d4 d5 2.c4
- London System
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4
- Queen’s Gambit Declined
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6
- Slav and Semi-Slav
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6
- Queen’s Gambit Accepted
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4