Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit
ECO D08 · 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5
The Albin Countergambit, 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5, strikes back in the center at once instead of defending d5. After 3.dxe5 d4 Black has a cramping pawn on d4 and quick development in return for the pawn.
Plans for White
White keeps the extra pawn with Nf3, g3, Bg2 and Nbd2, and often returns it later with e3 or Nb3 to break up Black's d4 wedge. Avoiding e3 at the wrong moment is important.
Plans for Black
Black pushes ...d4, develops with ...Nc6, ...Be6 or ...Bg4, ...Qd7 and often ...O-O-O, then attacks White's king with ...h5-h4 or wins back e5.
Typical pawn structures
Black's d4 wedge cramps White's queenside; White's extra e5 pawn is a target.
Who it suits
Gambit players who want active play against the Queen's Gambit.
Common traps
The Lasker trap: 3.dxe5 d4 4.e3? Bb4+ 5.Bd2 dxe3 6.Bxb4?? exf2+ 7.Ke2 fxg1=N+! and Black wins, because 8.Rxg1 Bg4+ wins the queen.
Variations
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit, Fianchetto Variation — 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. g3
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit, Normal Line — 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit, Spassky Variation — 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. e4
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit, Tartakower Defense — 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 c5
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit, Modern Line — 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit, Balogh Variation — 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 Qe7
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit, Janowski Variation — 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 f6
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit, Lasker Trap — 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. e3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 dxe3
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit, Krenosz Variation — 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 Bg4 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Nxf3 Bb4+ 8. Bd2 Qe7
Related variations
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Austrian Defense
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Baltic Defense
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Marshall Defense
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Harrwitz Attack
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Capablanca Variation
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Tarrasch Defense
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Vienna Variation
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Pseudo-Tarrasch Variation
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Lasker Defense
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Neo-Orthodox Variation
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Anti-Tartakower Variation
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Tartakower Defense
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Zilbermints Gambit
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight Variation
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Alapin Variation
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Austrian Attack, Salvio Countergambit
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Janowski Variation
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Normal Defense
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Traditional Variation
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Barmen Variation
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Been-Koomen Variation