Dealing with the Englund
Matthew Lunn analyses and explains how to counter a dubious gambit

I have chosen the Englund Gambit, 1.d4 e5, as the subject of this month’s article for three reasons: (i) It would be advisable knowing how to avoid the ‘one big trap’, which sees White either lose a lot of material, or get mated; (ii) when White avoids the trap, the subsequent lines are an absolute joy to play; and (iii) White has a counter trap, which, while less strong than the main line, leads to a quirky position which would be very instructive to play over the board, thus making it suitable for blitz or study.
You probably know that in the JavaScript replay below you can maximize the board to fill your browser window, flip sides and move pieces to analyse the lines given.

You can even start an engine to assist (by clicking the fan button below the board). And in the end you can save your analysis in your personal cloud database without ever leaving your browser. Full instructions are available on this tutorial page.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Nc6 2...d6 3.Nf3 3.exd6 Bxd6 3...Nc6 3...Bg4 4.Bg5 4.Qd4 Bxf3 5.exf3 Nc6 6.Bb5 4.Bg5 Be7 4...f6 5.exf6 Nxf6 5.Bxe7 Ngxe7 6.exd6 cxd6 2...f6 3.exf6 3.e4!? Nc6 4.Nf3 fxe5 5.Bc4 3...Nxf6 2...Qe7 3.Nf3 2...Bc5 3.Nf3 Nc6 3...f6 4.e4 4.Nc3 Nge7 5.Ne4 Bb6 6.h4 3.Nf3 Qe7 3...Nge7 4.e4 4.Bg5 h6 5.Bh4 g5 6.Bg3 Nf5 7.e4 Nxg3 8.hxg3 Bg7 4...Ng6 5.Nc3 Ngxe5 6.Nxe5 Nxe5 7.Be3 4.Bf4 4...Qb4+ 4...d6 5.Bg5 5.exd6 Qf6 6.e3 Qxb2 7.Nbd2 Bxd6 8.Rb1 8.-- 5...Qe6 6.exd6 6.Nc3 dxe5 6...Bxd6 5.Bd2 5.Nc3!? 5...Qxf4 5...Qxb2 6.Bd2 6.Nd5 Qe4 6...Qf5 7.Nxc7+ Kd8 8.Nxa8 Nxe5 9.Qd4 Nc6 9...Nxf3+ 10.gxf3 Qxc2 11.Bh3 Qc5 12.Qd2 Qb4 10.Qh4+ Nf6 10...Qf6 11.g3! Qxh4 12.gxh4 10...Be7 11.Qg3 11.0-0-0 Be7 12.Qc4 Ne4 13.Rd5 Qe6 14.Nd4 Qf6 7.Nxc7+ Kd8 8.Nxa8 Nxe5 9.Ng5!? 9.c3 b6 10.Nxe5 Qxe5 11.Qa4 Qb8 12.0-0-0 12.Nxb6 Qxb6 9...Qf4 9...Qb4+ 10.c3! Qxb2 11.Rc1 Qxa2 12.e3 10.Qd5 Qxg5 10...Qb4+ 11.Kd1 Bd6 12.c3 12.e3 12...Qxb2 13.Rc1 Ke7 13...Qa3 14.f4 Qa4+ 15.Rc2 Nc4 16.Qe4 Nh6 17.e3 11.Qa5+ b6 12.Qxa7 Bd6 13.h4 Qf4 14.Qxb6+ Ke7 5...Qxb2 6.Nc3 6.Bc3?? Bb4 7.Qd2 7.Bxb4 Nxb4 7...Bxc3 8.Qxc3 Qc1# 6...Bb4 6...Nb4 7.Nd4 a6 7...c6 8.Rb1 Qa3 9.e3 Nh6 10.Bc4 Qa5 11.a3 Na6 12.f4 7...c5 8.Rb1 Qa3 9.Ndb5 Qa5 10.a3 Na6 11.Nd5 11.-- 8.a3 Bc5 8...Nc6 9.Nb3 9.Rb1 Qxa3 10.Nb3 7.Rb1 Qa3 7...Qxc3 8.Bxc3 Bxc3+ 9.Nd2 Bxe5 10.g3 8.Nd5 Bxd2+ 8...Ba5 9.Rb5 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 Qxa2 9.Qxd2 Kd8 9...Qxa2 10.Rd1 Kd8 11.Ng5 Nh6 12.e6! 10.Ng5 10.Qg5+ Nge7 11.Nxe7 Nxe7 12.Qxg7 10...Nxe5 10...Nh6 11.f4 Qxa2 12.Nc3 11.Rb3 Qf8 11...Qxa2 12.Qc3 12.Nxc7! Kxc7 13.Qa5+ 13...Kb8 13...Kd6 14.Qb4+ 14.Qxe5+ d6 15.Qf4 Nf6 16.g3 - Start an analysis engine:
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The above article appeared in the August 2016 of the British magazine CHESS

CHESS Magazine was established in 1935 by B.H. Wood who ran it for over fifty years. It is published each month by the London Chess Centre and is edited by IM Richard Palliser and Matt Read. The Executive Editor is Malcolm Pein, who organises the London Chess Classic.

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Interested in unorthodox openings and traps? There are a number of interesting ChessBase DVDs that include the Englund. The best way to find them: go to the Position Search page and enter the moves on the board (it is useful to remember this function!).

We particularly recommend the DVD Unorthodox Chess Openings by Valeri Lilov, who devotes 24 lectures to various unorthodox openings - some more popular with super GMs like Alexander Morozevich and others less known - yet all aiming at one and the same goal: to strengthen your opening repertoire and provide you with more weapons for the opening stage. The Chigorin Defence, the Chicago Gambit, and Grob’s Attack are among the systems included for White, with the Hippopotamus Defence and the Elephant Gambit are intended for Black. Lilov effectively teaches the best plans and ideas in each of these unique openings and guarantees success with each and every one of them. Video running time: 5 hrs 16 min.