King's Gambit Declined · C31

Falkbeer Countergambit, Hinrichsen Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. d4

The pawns on d4 and e5 stand in direct tension - the first player to resolve it chooses the structure. f4 offers a pawn to drag Black's e-pawn off the centre and open the f-file - development and attack against material, the oldest bargain in chess.

The first 4 moves, explained

• 1. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 1... e5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d4, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 2. f4 Challenges the pawn on e5 - the central tension has to resolve. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the King's Gambit: development and initiative over material.
• 2... d5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e4, and frees the bishop and queen. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Falkbeer Countergambit: development and initiative over material.

Sign in to read every move's note and train this line — 1 more move in this line, 5 in all.