English Defense · A40

Eastbourne Gambit

1. d4 b6 2. c4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e5

The pawns on d4 and e5 stand in direct tension - the first player to resolve it chooses the structure. Black's queenside bishop takes the long diagonal.

The first 4 moves, explained

• 1. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 1... b6 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via b7. Theory calls this the English Defense.
• 2. c4 Fights for d5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn.
• 2... Bb7 Fianchettoes the bishop onto the long diagonal, pressuring d5 and e4 from a distance.

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