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Mikenas Defense

Pozarek Gambit

A40gambitoffbeataggressive

  1. 1.d4Nc6
  2. 2.c4e5
  3. 3.dxe5Nxe5
  4. 4.Nc3Nxc4
217 games55%43%

A gambit line of the Mikenas Defense in which White leaves the c4-pawn en prise with 4. Nc3, giving it up for development and central control.

Train it in Theoria

About the Pozarek Gambit

In the Pozarek Gambit White meets 2...e5 by capturing on e5. After 3...Nxe5, White develops with 4. Nc3 instead of protecting the c4-pawn, and Black takes it with the knight. White's compensation is quicker development and the chance to build a broad center. The usual way to pursue this is 5. e4, the most common reply and White's best-scoring one, while 5. e3 and 5. Nf3 are the alternatives. Engines rate the position as roughly level.

Popular continuations