Openings 1.d4 Nf6: Indian defenses
Budapest Gambit (2...e5): Main Lines, Fajarowicz and a Mate Trap
2...e5 offers a pawn on move two. After 3.dxe5 Ng4 Black wins it back with ...Nc6, ...Bb4+ and ...Qe7 in most lines, and gets quick development and tricks against an unprepared opponent.
A51Indian Defense: Budapest Gambit
Games from this position (1600–1999): 12k
- 1.
- 2.
| Move | Played | Games | White · Draw · Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 57% | 7,042 | ||
| 22% | 2,645 | ||
| 12% | 1,437 | ||
| 5% | 648 | ||
| 3% | 345 | ||
| 0.8% | 93 |
Plans for both sides
White
- 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Bf4 or 4.Nf3 holds the pawn for a while; give it back calmly rather than weakening yourself.
- After ...Bb4+, block with Nbd2 and watch the d3 square: ...Ngxe5 and ...Nd3 is the classic trick.
- 3.d5 or 3.Nf3 declines and avoids the theory.
Black
- 3...Ng4 is the main move; ...Nc6, ...Bb4+ and ...Qe7 win e5 back.
- 3...Ne4 (the Fajarowicz) is trickier but leaves the knight exposed.
- Do not hurry: the e5 pawn usually falls once you have developed.
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Budapest Gambit at each rating
How often the position after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 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 | 329<0.1% | 3.dxe548% | |
| 1200–1599 | 2,897<0.1% | 3.dxe554% | |
| 1600–1999 | 12k0.2% | 3.dxe557% | |
| 2000+ | 6,5360.3% | 3.dxe573% | |
| All | 22k0.1% | 3.dxe561% |
What usually comes next
The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.
Main variations
The main line: Black regains the pawn and both sides castle. At 2000+ about two in three answer 5...Bb4+ with 6.Nbd2.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Bf4 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bb4+ 6.Nbd2 Qe7 7.e3 Ngxe5 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.Be2 O-O 10.O-OThe most common fourth move. Black aims the bishop at f2 and regains e5.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.e3 Nc6 6.Be2 Ngxe5 7.Nxe5 Nxe5 8.O-O d6The knight goes to e4 instead of g4. It is sharper but less sound; 4.Nf3 and 4.a3 are good answers.
115 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 44%, 6% were drawn, Black won 50%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ne4 4.Nf3 d6White refuses the pawn and gains space; Black develops with ...Bc5 and ...d6.
4,064 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 45%, 3% were drawn, Black won 51%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.d5 Bc5
Common traps
The Nd3 mate
After 6.Nbd2 Qe7 7.a3 Ngxe5 White should not grab the bishop: 8.axb4?? Nd3 is mate. The e2 pawn is pinned by the queen on e7, and every square around White’s king is blocked by its own pieces.
Fewer than 6 games in our data reached the end of this line.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Bf4 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bb4+ 6.Nbd2 Qe7 7.a3 Ngxe5 8.axb4 Nd3#(ends in mate)Advertisement
At club level
At 2000+ about three in four take the pawn with 3.dxe5, and then 3...Ng4 comes in about 85% of games. Below 1200 the Fajarowicz 3...Ne4 is far more common, at about one game in three. White scores about 50% after 2...e5 overall, so it is a respectable surprise.
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
- Indian Defense: 1.d4 Nf6
1.d4 Nf6
- King’s Indian Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6
- Nimzo-Indian Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4
- Old Indian Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6
- Trompowsky Attack
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5
- Grünfeld Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5