Albin Countergambit
You play Black · 9 variations
Mixed practice
The machine picks a different variation every time.
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10 positions: find the next theory move in each. No take-backs, no hints.
Main variations · 6
- Albin Countergambit, Fianchetto Variation, Be6 LineD091. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. g3 Be65 moves
- Albin Countergambit, Fianchetto Variation, Bf5 LineD091. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. g3 Bf55 moves
- Albin Countergambit, Fianchetto Variation, Bg4 LineD091. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. g3 Bg45 moves
- Albin Countergambit, Janowski VariationD081. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 f65 moves
- Albin Countergambit, Balogh VariationD081. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 Qe75 moves
- Albin Countergambit, Lasker TrapD081. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. e3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 dxe35 moves
Other variations · 3
- Albin Countergambit, Krenosz VariationD081. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 Bg4 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Nxf3 Bb4+ 8. Bd2 Qe78 moves
- Albin Countergambit, Tartakower DefenseD081. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 c54 moves
- Albin Countergambit, Spassky VariationD081. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. e44 moves
What is the Albin Countergambit?
The Albin Countergambit is an aggressive reply to the Queen's Gambit: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4. You give up the e-pawn at once, and the pawn on d4 becomes a wedge that cramps White, especially the knight on b1 and the dark-squared bishop. The play is sharp and tactical, with chances for both sides. It is a respectable surprise weapon rather than a mainstream defence: accurate play gives White a good position, but many players facing it for the first time go wrong quickly.
Main ideas and plans
The Normal Line is 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6, and White's main choice is between the Fianchetto Variation with g3 and the Modern Line with Nbd2. Against the fianchetto you pick a home for the light-squared bishop: ...Be6 hits c4, ...Bf5 takes the b1-h7 diagonal and ...Bg4 pins the knight. Typical follow-ups are ...Qd7, long castling and ...Bh3 to trade the g2 bishop; you often regain the e5 pawn with ...Nge7 and ...Ng6, or attack with ...h5. Against the Modern Line, the Janowski Variation with ...f6 and the Balogh Variation with ...Qe7 try to win the pawn back at once, while the Krenosz Variation trades on f3 with ...Bg4 and ...Bxf3 before checking on b4.
White wants to keep the pawn, develop with g3, Bg2 and O-O, and undermine d4 with Nbd2-b3, a3 and b4 or a timely e3. You want activity: the d4 wedge, open lines and often opposite-side castling. The most famous tactic is the Lasker Trap, 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.e3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 dxe3 6.Bxb4 exf2+ 7.Ke2 fxg1=N+, where you promote to a knight with check and win material. In the Spassky Variation White plays e4 and you keep the wedge, while the Tartakower Defense supports d4 with ...c5 instead of developing the knight.
Who is it for?
The Albin suits attacking players who want to drag White out of familiar Queen's Gambit territory and are happy to be a pawn down for activity. It works best at club level and in faster games; a well-prepared White can hold the pawn and keep an edge. If your initiative fades, you are simply a pawn down with a loose pawn on d4. Learn the Lasker Trap first, then the plan against the fianchetto with ...Be6 or ...Bg4, ...Qd7 and long castling, since that is the set-up you will meet most often.