Play With TheoryQueen's Pawn Game · III. Closed Game
Blackmar-Diemer Gambit
The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit (BDG) is a perhaps the most aggressive option available to White in the Closed Game. Like most gambits, White's plan is to sacrifice one or more pawns in order to secure a lead in development and mount an early attack against Black's king.
- Side
- white
Characteristics
- ☘ AttainableShows up often enough that a learner should get regular chances to reach it.
- ⚔ TacticalSharp opening that creates concrete positions with immediate tactical demands.
- ⏳ TheoreticalNeeds concrete preparation, but not necessarily the extreme depth of the heaviest theory openings.
- 💎 UncommonLess common in practice, which can reduce opponent familiarity.
Strategic guide
Plans and motifs
- In the main lines, White gets open e- and f-files, which should quickly be occupied by rooks for a kingside attack.
- White usually castles queenside so that they can initiate a kingside pawn storm without jeopardizing the safety of their own king.
Theory map
Common lines
- After main line 3...Nf6:
- After main line 4.f3 exf3:
- 5.Nxf3 — Main Line
- 5.Qxf3?! — Ryder Gambit
- 4.Bg5 — von Popiel Gambit
- May transpose into several other openings (e.g. French Defense, Caro-Kann Defense) if Black declines the initial Blackmar Gambit.