Englund Gambit Declined

With 2. d5 White ignores the offered pawn and also prevents ...exd4, keeping the e-file and center shut. Taking on e5 is the critical test of 1...e5, so the push does not exploit Black's dubious first move. It is chosen mainly to avoid the forcing gambit lines a player may not know. Reference sources rate declining the gambit as inaccurate, though 2. d5 does not lose anything objectively.

The resulting structure is closed, with White's pawn on d5 facing Black's on e5. The d5-pawn gains space and takes c6 and e6 from Black's pieces. In return, the advance of the e-pawn has already freed Black's dark-squared bishop, and no material is at stake. Black can support e5 with ...d6, which also opens the c8-bishop, or develop the kingside pieces at once. A few players add ...c5, which transposes to the Old Benoni.

2...d6 is the most popular reply, with 2...Bc5 almost as common. Black scores better after 2...Bc5, which reference sources consider a good answer: the bishop goes straight to the a7-g1 diagonal and eyes f2. The Diemer Counterattack, 2...Bc5 3. e4 Qh4, follows this up by attacking both e4 and f2 at once. The engine's first choice is 2...Nf6, with the check 2...Bb4+ and 2...Bc5 next, and it rates the position as roughly balanced. Results in online play are almost exactly even.

The name also covers White's other ways of declining. The Reversed French, 2. e3, can be met by 2...exd4 3. exd4 d5, an Exchange French with colors reversed. Black may also skip ...d5 and simply develop. After the Reversed Alekhine, 2. Nf3, Black has two good options. One is 2...exd4 3. Nxd4 d5 with ...c5 to follow. The other is the Reversed Krebs, 2...e4, which drives the knight away. The knight can go forward with 3. Ne5, the Reversed Mokele Mbembe, or back with 3. Ng1, the Reversed Brooklyn. After 3. Ne5 d6 4. Nc4 d5, Black has a comfortable game.