Danish Gambit
The Danish Gambit, known as the Nordisches Gambit in German and the Noords Gambiet in Dutch (both meaning Nordic Gambit), is a chess opening that begins with the moves:
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| Moves | 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ECO | C21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Origin | 1867 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Named after | Danish player Martin Severin From | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent | Center Game | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Synonym(s) | Nordic Gambit Norwegian Gambit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
White will sacrifice one or two pawns for the sake of rapid development and the attack. However, with care, Black can accept one or both pawns safely, or simply decline the gambit altogether with good chances.
Although it may have been known earlier, Danish player Martin Severin From essayed the gambit in the Paris 1867 tournament and he is usually given credit for the opening. The Danish Gambit was popular with masters of the attack including Alekhine, Marshall, Blackburne, and Mieses, but as more defensive lines for Black were discovered and improved, it lost favor in the 1920s. Today it is rarely played in top-level chess.