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French Defense

Advance Variation, Ruisdonk Gambit

C02gambitaggressiveoffbeat

  1. 1.e4e6
  2. 2.d4d5
  3. 3.e5c5
  4. 4.Nf3cxd4
  5. 5.Bd3
1,351 games52%43%

A gambit line of the French Advance in which White answers 4...cxd4 with 5. Bd3, leaving the d-pawn behind in favor of rapid development.

Train it in Theoria

About the Ruisdonk Gambit

The Ruisdonk Gambit arises from the Nimzowitsch System when White meets 4...cxd4 with 5. Bd3 rather than recapturing. White leaves the d-pawn behind in favor of quick development and kingside castling. The knight on f3 keeps guarding e5 while the bishop clears the way for O-O. Black almost always continues 5...Nc6, and 6. O-O is a typical follow-up. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced, and White scores well in online games.

Popular continuations