Theoria
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Danish Gambit Accepted

Schlechter Defense

C21solidpositional

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.d4exd4
  3. 3.c3dxc3
  4. 4.Bc4cxb2
  5. 5.Bxb2d5
1,974 games48%47%

Schlechter Defense to the Danish Gambit, 5...d5, returns a pawn for quick development and often steers play into a level queenless middlegame.

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About the Schlechter Defense

Carl Schlechter's 5...d5 gives back one of the extra pawns to open the diagonal of the c8-bishop and catch up in development, blunting the attack White sought with the double pawn sacrifice. The usual 6. Bxd5 Nf6 7. Bxf7+ Kxf7 8. Qxd8 Bb4+ 9. Qd2 Bxd2+ 10. Nxd2 trades queens into a roughly equal position, while 6. exd5 obstructs White's own light-squared bishop. The reliability of this defense contributed to the Danish Gambit's decline in popularity.

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