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King's Gambit Declined

Classical, Soldatenkov Variation

C30solidoffbeat

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.f4Bc5
  3. 3.Nf3d6
  4. 4.fxe5
1,405 games44%52%

A Classical King's Gambit Declined line in which White answers ...d6 by capturing on e5 at once, giving a simplified, roughly balanced game.

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About the Soldatenkov Variation

The Soldatenkov Variation resolves the central tension immediately. With the knight on f3 covering h4, 4. fxe5 no longer allows ...Qh4+, so White simply takes the pawn. Black almost always recaptures with 4...dxe5, restoring material and opening the d-file, while the bishop on c5 still hinders White's kingside castling. The engine rates the position as level, and Black has scored well in online games. The alternatives 4...Bg4 and 4...Nc6 are much less common.

Popular continuations