ECO code: C21
Danish Gambit Accepted arises after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Bc4 cxb2 5. Bxb2. In this opening, White sacrifices one or two pawns early on to gain rapid development and open lines for an aggressive attack.
Characteristic: The Danish Gambit is known for its bold pawn sacrifices that aim to accelerate White’s piece activity and control of key central squares. By giving up material, White tries to build a strong initiative and put immediate pressure on Black’s position.
Attacking or Defensive: When playing as White, this opening is highly attacking, focusing on quick development and open lines to threaten Black’s king and central control. Black, having accepted the gambit, needs to be cautious and often plays a more defensive and precise game to neutralize White’s initiative.
Center Control: The Danish Gambit directly targets the center by challenging Black’s pawn on e5 and seeking to dominate central squares with active pieces. Although White sacrifices pawns, the opening aims to regain central influence through rapid piece play rather than immediate pawn presence.
This opening is defined by the position shown on the board below. The moves displayed are a typical sequence that leads to it, but different sequences can reach the same position and still carry the same opening name.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the Danish Gambit Accepted, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 67 - Move #5 black