ECO code: C40
Elephant Gambit: Paulsen Countergambit
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 e4
This gambit is a sharp and somewhat risky attempt by Black to challenge White's control of the center immediately. By playing 3...e4, Black aggressively attacks the knight on f3, gaining space and trying to disrupt White's natural development.
Characteristic: The defining feature of the Paulsen Countergambit is Black's early push of the pawn to e4 after White captures on d5. This move sacrifices central pawn structure stability in exchange for active piece play and immediate pressure on White's knight.
Attacking or Defensive: From Black's perspective, this is an aggressive and attacking choice, aiming to seize the initiative early. For White, it requires careful defense and precise play to maintain the advantage and avoid falling into traps.
Center Control: The opening directly contests the center. Black challenges White's pawn on e4 and aims to disrupt White’s hold on the center, though at the cost of pawns and potential weaknesses.
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 Elephant Gambit: Paulsen Countergambit, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 56 - Move #4 white