Stockholm Variation

The Stockholm Variation is White's most direct attempt to keep the gambit pawn in the 3...Qe7 main line. Instead of returning it with 4. Bf4 or 4. Nc3, White defends e5 with the queen. Because the queen is exposed on d5, Black can attack it with gain of time. The position after 4. Qd5 was the starting point of the 1932–33 thematic tournament sponsored by Fritz Englund. Engines give White a slight edge, and online results are close to even.

In practice 4...Nb4, which hits the queen and eyes c2, is the most frequent reply. The theoretical main line is 4...f6 5. exf6 Nxf6 6. Qb3. The slow fianchettoes 4...b6 and 6...b6, and the attempt 4...h6, are considered insufficient. After 6...d5, the natural 7. Nc3 runs into 7...Bd7, threatening ...Na5, with complications that favor Black: 8. Bg5 Na5, or 8. Qxb7 Rb8 9. Qxc7 Qc5. The more accurate 7. Bf4 and 7. Bg5 leave Black with some compensation, but White keeps the better game. 4...Qb4+ is a further common alternative.