Openings nobody plays that still work

I pointed Stockfish, Leela and a set of human-move models at 89 million Lichess games and asked for sacrifices that almost nobody plays and that an engine still calls sound. The boards below are live: click through the moves, and the side lines show what people actually answer.

Everything here is one month of data and one night of search, so read the method and limits before you trust a number.

Two new gambits

For 2200 and up: Alekhine, 4...Bg4 5.e6. After 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4 the book move is 5.Be2. Here the e-pawn goes to e6 instead. Black has to take it with the bishop, because 5...fxe6 6.Be2 leaves White about half a pawn better and everything else runs into 6.exf7+.

Against perfect defence it is a quarter of a pawn down. Stockfish 19 at depth 36 says -0.10 and Leela BT4 says -0.20, with win, draw and loss at 18, 55 and 27 percent. White keeps the bishop pair and space. The book 5.Be2 is +0.97, so the gambit costs about a pawn of evaluation against someone who finds everything.

Most people will not. Maia 1900 answers 5...fxe6 73 percent of the time, and 84 percent of its replies leave White at +0.30 or better. In 2,000 simulated games per line, Stockfish playing my side and Maia 1900 the other, the gambit scored 82.9 percent against 79.6 for 5.Be2. That is 3.3 points better with a standard error of 0.4, and it is the only true gambit in the whole search that beat its own book move. At 1500 level it is 4.7 points worse, so it belongs at the top of the rating range.

The position has 1,646 games among 1,038,829 on Lichess and no master games. I found no name for it anywhere.

Black's replies after 5.e6, share of Maia replies at each level, and the engine's view for White
Reply	Maia 1900	Maia 1500	Maia 1100	Stockfish
5...Bxe6	16%	37%	21%	-0.21
5...fxe6	73%	48%	39%	+0.49
5...Bxf3	3%	8%	29%	+5.30
5...Nc6	3%	1%	2%	+6.66

[Event "Alekhine 4...Bg4 5.e6 gambit"]
[Site "gambit search, Stockfish 19 + Leela BT4 + Maia"]
[Date "2026.10.20"]
[Round "-"]
[White "gambiteer"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. e6 { The gambit move. Stockfish 19 depth 30: -0.12 after best defence. Leela BT4 400k nodes: -0.20, win/draw/loss 18/55/27 %. Normal move here is Be2 (+0.97). } 5... Bxe6 { Maia 1900 plays this 16 %, Maia 1500 37 %, Maia 1100 21 %. Stockfish -0.21, Leela -0.16 (w/d/l 19/56/26) for the gambiteer. } ( 5... fxe6 { Maia 1900 plays this 73 %, Maia 1500 48 %, Maia 1100 39 %. Stockfish +0.49, Leela +0.49 (w/d/l 34/53/13) for the gambiteer. } 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Qxf3 g6 8. c3 c6 9. Bc4 Bg7 10. O-O Nd7 ) ( 5... Bxf3 { Maia 1900 plays this 3 %, Maia 1500 8 %, Maia 1100 29 %. Stockfish +5.30, Leela +3.73 (w/d/l 89/8/3) for the gambiteer. } 6. exf7+ Kxf7 7. Qxf3+ Nf6 8. g4 Nc6 9. g5 Nxd4 10. Qd3 e5 ) ( 5... Nc6 { Maia 1900 plays this 3 %, Maia 1500 1 %, Maia 1100 2 %. Stockfish +6.66, Leela +5.53 (w/d/l 95/4/2) for the gambiteer. } 6. exf7+ Kd7 7. c4 Nf6 8. d5 Ne5 9. Nxe5+ dxe5 10. f3 Bf5 ) 6. Ng5 Qd7 7. c4 Nf6 8. Nxe6 Qxe6+ 9. Be2 g6 10. Nc3 Bg7 11. d5 *

Alekhine 4...Bg4 5.e6. Side lines are the human replies, with the model percentages in the comments. Download the PGN.

A trap for players under 1000

Centre Game, 2...f6 3.dxe5 fxe5 4.Ba6. After 1.e4 e5 2.d4 f6 White is already better, and 4.Nf3 is +1.20. The bishop goes to a6 instead to drag the b-pawn or the b8 knight off its post, so that 5.Qh5+ and Qxe5 hit the rook on h8. Low-rated players play 2...f6 in about 5.6 percent of their 1.e4 e5 2.d4 games.

Against 4...bxa6, which is 49 percent of Maia 1100 replies, 5.Qh5+ g6 6.Qxe5+ Qe7 7.Qxh8 wins a rook (+6.1 at depth 26). Over all 27 legal replies weighted by Maia 1100, 51 percent leave White at +2.00 or better. The good defences are 4...Nxa6, which gives White a perpetual or a messy +0.1, and 4...Nf6. The sharpest is 4...Bb4+, about -0.58 at depth 36, which is King's Gambit territory.

Simulated with Stockfish on my side and Maia 1100 on the other, 2,000 games, the trap scores 93.1 percent against 94.4 for 4.Nf3. It wins about as often as the best normal move, and about half of those wins are a rook up by move 7. At 1500 level it falls 3.6 points behind, so past roughly 1400 play 4.Nf3. Two unprepared humans do badly with it, 38 percent against 55, because an 1100 White does not find 5.Qh5+. It has to be learned.

The position has 33 games among 1,633,830 on Lichess and has never appeared in the masters database.

Black's replies after 4.Ba6, share of Maia replies at each level, and the engine's view for White
Reply	Maia 1100	Maia 1500	Maia 1900	Stockfish
4...bxa6	49%	33%	7%	+6.14
4...Nxa6	35%	44%	77%	+0.08
4...Nf6	6%	16%	14%	-0.07
4...d6	3%	2%	1%	+0.47

[Event "Centre Game 2...f6 4.Ba6 trap"]
[Site "gambit search, Stockfish 19 + Leela BT4 + Maia"]
[Date "2026.10.20"]
[Round "-"]
[White "gambiteer"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. d4 f6 3. dxe5 fxe5 4. Ba6 { The gambit move. Stockfish 19 depth 28: -0.33 after best defence. Leela BT4 400k nodes: -0.39, win/draw/loss 15/54/32 %. Normal move here is Nf3 (+1.20). } 4... Bb4+ ( 4... bxa6 { Maia 1100 plays this 49 %, Maia 1500 33 %, Maia 1900 7 %. Stockfish +6.14, Leela +9.20 (w/d/l 96/2/2) for the gambiteer. } 5. Qh5+ g6 6. Qxe5+ Qe7 7. Qxh8 Qxe4+ 8. Ne2 Qxg2 9. Rg1 Qd5 ) ( 4... Nxa6 { Maia 1100 plays this 35 %, Maia 1500 44 %, Maia 1900 77 %. Stockfish +0.08, Leela +0.16 (w/d/l 26/56/18) for the gambiteer. } 5. Qh5+ Ke7 6. Qxe5+ Kf7 7. Qd5+ Ke7 8. Bg5+ Nf6 9. e5 c6 ) ( 4... Nf6 { Maia 1100 plays this 6 %, Maia 1500 16 %, Maia 1900 14 %. Stockfish -0.07, Leela +0.02 (w/d/l 24/54/23) for the gambiteer. } 5. Bc4 c6 6. f4 Bc5 7. Nc3 d6 8. Nf3 b5 9. fxe5 dxe5 ) ( 4... d6 { Maia 1100 plays this 3 %, Maia 1500 2 %, Maia 1900 1 %. Stockfish +0.47, Leela +0.51 (w/d/l 36/51/14) for the gambiteer. } 5. Bc4 Qe7 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. Nf3 c6 8. h3 Be6 9. Bb3 Nbd7 ) 5. c3 Nxa6 6. Qh5+ Kf8 7. cxb4 Nxb4 8. Qd1 h6 9. Ne2 d6 10. O-O *

Centre Game 2...f6 4.Ba6. The main line shown is the best defence, 4...Bb4+. Download the PGN.

Gambits for Black

Yesterday's two gambits were both for White, and among the candidates only one in eight had Black giving the material. So today the deep scoring ran on every Black-side survivor of the three sweeps: 692 lines, 83 of which pass the soundness gate for 2200+ play. Most of the top of that list is junk, in the sense that Black is already winning because White opened 2.Qh5. Filtering those out leaves one real gambit and one real trap.

For 2200 and up: Falkbeer Countergambit, Blackburne Attack, 3...Nh6. After 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.Nf3, which a quarter of King's Gambit players choose against 2...d5, the book moves are 3...dxe4 and 3...exf4. Here the knight goes to h6 and both centre pawns stay where they are. Stockfish 19 at depth 36 puts it at -0.09 against the best defence, with three White moves that hold within a tenth of a pawn (4.exd5, 4.Nc3 and 4.Qe2). Leela BT4 at 400,000 nodes says -0.19, with win, draw and loss at 22, 48 and 30 percent. The book 3...dxe4 is +0.12 for White, so the gambit costs a fifth of a pawn against perfect play, which is cheaper than the Alekhine 5.e6 above.

The point is what people actually play. The most common reply at every level is 4.Nxe5, a third of 1900-level replies, and after 4...f6 5.Nd3 dxe4 Black is already +0.33. 4.fxe5, one reply in six, runs into 4...dxe4, when the knight on f3 has no square (5.Ng5 Qxg5, 5.Nd4 Qh4+), and is +4.8 for Black. Weighted over Maia 1900's replies Black's expected evaluation is +0.67 and 55 percent of replies leave Black at +0.30 or better. In the simulation, Stockfish on my side and Maia on the other, 2,000 games per level, 3...Nh6 scored 4.6 points above 3...dxe4 at 1100 level, 5.0 at 1500 and 11.5 at 1900, the biggest gain of any gambit in two days of searching. With both sides human it is 3 points worse at 1100 and 2 better at 1900. The position has 179 games among 2,326,528 on Lichess, none among the 23 master games, and no name that I could find.

For 1000 and under: Caro-Kann, 2.Qf3 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Qc7. This one needs White to play 2.Qf3 against the Caro-Kann, which 2.7 percent of under-1100 players do (7,333 games a month). After 2...d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 the normal move is 4...Nf6. 4...Qc7 is level, +0.02 at depth 30 and +0.07 for Leela, and it sets two traps on the c-file: 5.cxd5 loses the bishop on c1 to 5...Qxc1+ (+6.7), and 5.b3 loses the rook to 5...Qe5+ (+7.2). The model has 42 percent of 1100-rated players and 68 percent of 1500s taking on d5. Even the sensible 5.Qxd5 is +1.19 for Black after 5...Nc6 6.Qb5 e5. In simulation it beat 4...Nf6 by 7.4, 10.3 and 7.3 points at 1100, 1500 and 1900 with a prepared Black, and by 5.8, 9.3 and 3.6 with both sides human, the only line in the search that wins more even when nobody knows the theory. It has 285 games among 396,213 on Lichess and none among masters.

Two more that did not make it. The Wayward Queen counter 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Qf3 b5 wins a piece if White takes (5.Bxb5 Nd4, +4.4), but Black is already +2.6 there and the plain 4...Nd4 is +3.6; the trap scored two points worse than the book move at every level, so a trap that gives back evaluation is not worth learning. The French 3.Bd3 dxe4 4.Bxe4 e5 is sound (-0.18 at depth 36) and scored 9.7 points above 4...Nf6 at 1900 level with a prepared Black, but it has 3,464 games on Lichess already, so it is a rediscovery, not a find.

White's replies to 3...Nh6, share of Maia replies at each level, and the engine's view for Black
Reply	Maia 1900	Maia 1500	Maia 1100	Stockfish
4.Nxe5	32%	24%	34%	+0.33
4.exd5	29%	33%	16%	-0.22
4.fxe5	18%	20%	17%	+4.84
4.Nc3	10%	7%	9%	-0.01
4.d3	6%	7%	8%	+0.22

White's replies to 4...Qc7 in the Caro-Kann line, and the engine's view for Black
Reply	Maia 1900	Maia 1500	Maia 1100	Stockfish
5.cxd5	62%	68%	42%	+6.73
5.Qxd5	19%	15%	33%	+1.19
5.Nc3	13%	5%	5%	+0.09
5.b3	1%	4%	8%	+7.18
5.d4	3%	4%	4%	+0.02

[Event "Falkbeer Countergambit, Blackburne Attack, 3...Nh6 (a gambit for Black)"]
[Site "gambit search, Stockfish 19 + Leela BT4 + Maia"]
[Date "2026.10.21"]
[Round "-"]
[White "?"]
[Black "gambiteer"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. Nf3 Nh6 { The gambit move. Stockfish 19 depth 30: -0.24 after best defence. Leela BT4 400k nodes: -0.19, win/draw/loss 22/48/30 %. Normal move here is dxe4 (+0.12). } 4. exd5 ( 4. Nxe5 { Maia 1100 plays this 34 %, Maia 1500 24 %, Maia 1900 32 %. Stockfish +0.31, Leela +0.31 (w/d/l 32/48/20) for the gambiteer. } 4... f6 5. Nd3 Nc6 6. Nf2 dxe4 7. Bb5 Bf5 8. Bxc6+ bxc6 9. g4 ) ( 4. exd5 { Maia 1100 plays this 16 %, Maia 1500 33 %, Maia 1900 29 %. Stockfish -0.15, Leela -0.21 (w/d/l 22/47/31) for the gambiteer. } 4... e4 5. Ne5 Nf5 6. g3 c6 7. Nc3 cxd5 8. Bb5+ Nd7 9. d3 ) ( 4. fxe5 { Maia 1100 plays this 17 %, Maia 1500 20 %, Maia 1900 18 %. Stockfish +5.60, Leela +4.06 (w/d/l 90/8/3) for the gambiteer. } 4... dxe4 5. Ng1 Nf5 6. g3 Nc6 7. d3 exd3 8. Bxd3 Nxe5 9. Nf3 ) ( 4. Nc3 { Maia 1100 plays this 9 %, Maia 1500 7 %, Maia 1900 10 %. Stockfish +0.04, Leela +0.01 (w/d/l 21/59/20) for the gambiteer. } 4... d4 5. Ne2 Nc6 6. d3 Bc5 7. a3 O-O 8. b4 Bb6 9. b5 ) 4... e4 5. Ng5 Bc5 6. d4 exd3 7. Bxd3 O-O 8. Nc3 Kh8 9. Be2 Qe7 *

Falkbeer, Blackburne Attack, 3...Nh6. The main line is the best defence; the side lines are the human replies with their model percentages. Download the PGN.

[Event "Caro-Kann 2.Qf3 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Qc7 (a trap for Black)"]
[Site "gambit search, Stockfish 19 + Leela BT4 + Maia"]
[Date "2026.10.21"]
[Round "-"]
[White "?"]
[Black "gambiteer"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 c6 2. Qf3 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Qc7 { The gambit move. Stockfish 19 depth 30: +0.02 after best defence. Leela BT4 400k nodes: +0.07, win/draw/loss 21/61/18 %. Normal move here is Nf6 (+0.25). } 5. d4 ( 5. cxd5 { Maia 1100 plays this 42 %, Maia 1500 68 %, Maia 1900 62 %. Stockfish +6.73, Leela +13.04 (w/d/l 99/1/1) for the gambiteer. } 5... Qxc1+ 6. Qd1 Qxd1+ 7. Kxd1 Nf6 8. Nc3 a6 9. a4 Nbd7 10. Bc4 ) ( 5. Qxd5 { Maia 1100 plays this 33 %, Maia 1500 15 %, Maia 1900 19 %. Stockfish +1.19, Leela +1.14 (w/d/l 54/36/11) for the gambiteer. } 5... Nc6 6. Qb5 e5 7. d3 Bd7 8. Nf3 e4 9. dxe4 Nb4 10. Qe5+ ) ( 5. b3 { Maia 1100 plays this 8 %, Maia 1500 4 %, Maia 1900 1 %. Stockfish +7.18, Leela +8.98 (w/d/l 97/2/1) for the gambiteer. } 5... Qe5+ 6. Ne2 Qxa1 7. Nbc3 Nf6 8. h3 e6 9. g4 Ba3 10. Bg2 ) ( 5. Nc3 { Maia 1100 plays this 5 %, Maia 1500 5 %, Maia 1900 13 %. Stockfish +0.09, Leela +0.09 (w/d/l 22/61/18) for the gambiteer. } 5... dxc4 6. Qg3 Na6 7. Qxc7 Nxc7 8. Bxc4 g6 9. Nf3 Be6 10. d3 ) 5... Nc6 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. cxd5 Nxd4 8. Qd1 e5 9. dxe6 Nxe6 10. Bb5+ Bd7 *

Caro-Kann 2.Qf3 line with 4...Qc7. Both c-file traps are in the side lines. Download the PGN.

The most played mistakes at your rating

Same month of games, different question: which moves do people get wrong most often, and does it change with rating? I took every position with enough games, every move that at least 2 percent of players chose there, and asked Stockfish 19 how much worse it is than the best move. Depth 16 to screen everything, depth 24 for the 400 costliest rows per band. The number I call the loss is the gap between the best move and the played move, from the mover's side. A tenth of a pawn is noise. A full pawn is a real mistake, and that is where the tables start.

Both players rated 1100 or under first. The Englund Gambit, 1.d4 e5, is the biggest leak at this level: 157,343 games in the month, one in ten 1.d4 games, and the engine calls it a pawn and a quarter down for nothing. 2...Bc5 against 2.Nf3 (the Busch-Gass) hangs the e-pawn 78,576 times a month, and the funny part is on the other side of the board: only 26 percent of the players facing it take the pawn, and a third play 3.Bc4 and leave it there. 2...f6 (the Damiano) is the same mistake with a worse excuse. The Tennison, 1.e4 d5 2.Nf3, is played in 9 percent of club Scandinavians and simply loses the e-pawn. And 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 g6 drops a rook to 3.Qxe5+ in 19,979 games a month; the model says only 41 percent of 1100s find 2...Nc6.

At 2200 and up the Englund survives into the 2200s as a blitz weapon, 55,650 games and 3.4 percent of 1.d4 games, and the reply is just as interesting: 42 percent of strong players decline the pawn with 2.c4, 2.Nf3 or 2.e3, and all three cost more than a pawn against 2.dxe5. The reversed version, 1.Nf3 e5, is played 15,661 times, and 30 percent of its opponents decline with 2.g3. The Stafford, 3...Nc6 after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5, shows up in 18 percent of those games at 2200+ and costs 1.79 against 3...d6. Facing the Tennison, 61 percent of strong players answer 3.Ng5 with 3...Nf6, when 3...Bf5 is three quarters of a pawn better. That one line is the single most useful fact in the whole table.

Of the twenty costliest club mistakes, eleven are three to thirty times rarer among 2200+ players (the Wayward Queen, the Busch-Gass, the Damiano, 2.e5 against the Scandinavian, the Bishop's Opening), two are rare enough that the position never made the 2200+ tree, and three shrink by half. Four survive or grow: the Alekhine, the Centre Game, 2.Nc3 against the Scandinavian and the King's Gambit. Those are opening choices with an engine cost under a pawn, not blunders, and strong players make them on purpose.

Read the loss column before calling a row a blunder. The costliest row by games times loss at every level is 1.e4 d5, the Scandinavian, at 0.42 of a pawn, which is the price of an opening, not a mistake. Every position in the tables was also run through Leela BT4 at 100,000 nodes; rows where both engines agree the move is worse are marked. Full tables with the punishment lines and the human probabilities are in the repository.

Real blunders, both players 1100 or under: moves that cost a pawn or more, by games in September 2026
Position	Move	Games	Share	Loss	Better
1.d4	1...e5	157,343	10%	1.24 (both engines)	Nf6
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3	2...Bc5	78,576	5%	1.67 (both engines)	Nc6
1.e4 d5	2.Nc3	56,276	10%	1.03 (both engines)	exd5
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3	2...f6	52,573	3%	1.81 (both engines)	Nc6
1.e4 d5	2.Nf3	51,495	9%	1.64 (both engines)	exd5
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Bc5	3.Bc4	26,402	34%	1.64 (both engines)	Nxe5
1.Nf3	1...e5	22,609	12%	1.23 (both engines)	Nf6
1.e4 e5 2.Qh5	2...g6	19,979	11%	7.77 (both engines)	Nc6
1.e4 d5	2.d4	18,550	3%	1.33 (both engines)	exd5
1.e4 d5	2.f3	17,584	3%	1.36 (both engines)	exd5
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3	3...Bc5	14,296	21%	1.15 (both engines)	Nc6
1.d4 e5	2.e3	14,135	9%	1.27 (both engines)	dxe5
1.e3 e5	2.Qh5	13,968	13%	1.13 (both engines)	d4
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4	3...Nf6	13,793	10%	1.28 (both engines)	exd4
1.d4 e5	2.Nf3	13,724	9%	1.73 (both engines)	dxe5
1.e4 d5	2.Qf3	12,536	2%	1.28 (both engines)	exd5

Real blunders, both players 2200 or more
Position	Move	Games	Share	Loss	Better
1.d4	1...e5	55,650	3%	1.24 (both engines)	Nf6
1.e4 d5	2.Nc3	29,558	13%	1.03 (both engines)	exd5
1.Nf3	1...e5	15,661	3%	1.23 (both engines)	Nf6
1.e4 d5	2.Nf3	13,108	6%	1.64 (both engines)	exd5
1.d4 e5	2.c4	9,920	18%	1.52 (both engines)	dxe5
1.e4 d5	2.d4	9,863	4%	1.33 (both engines)	exd5
1.d4 e5	2.Nf3	9,324	17%	1.73 (both engines)	dxe5
1.e4 c5 2.d4	2...Nc6	5,165	8%	1.66 (both engines)	cxd4
1.Nf3 e5	2.g3	4,773	30%	1.62 (both engines)	Nxe5
1.e4 c5 2.d4	2...d6	4,515	7%	1.14 (both engines)	cxd4
1.e4 Nf6	2.Nf3	4,355	5%	1.44 (both engines)	e5
1.d4 e5	2.e3	4,233	8%	1.27 (both engines)	dxe5
1.c4 d5	2.Nc3	4,058	24%	1.72 (both engines)	cxd5
1.d4 c5	2.Bf4	3,129	2%	1.34 (both engines)	d5

Positions where the most played move at 2200+ is the wrong one by half a pawn or more
Position	Most played	Share	Games	Loss	Better
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6	3.Nc3	47%	8,138	0.51 (both engines)	cxd5
1.e4 d5 2.Nf3 dxe4 3.Ng5	3...Nf6	61%	6,267	0.73 (both engines)	Bf5
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.d4	3...Qd8	42%	4,019	0.50 (both engines)	Nc6
1.d4 c5 2.c4 cxd4 3.Nf3	3...Nc6	56%	3,454	0.80 (both engines)	e5
1.e4 d5 2.Nf3 dxe4 3.Ng5 Nf6	4.Nc3	45%	2,822	0.83 (both engines)	Bc4
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6	4.O-O	57%	2,516	0.59 (both engines)	d4
1.e4 Nf6 2.d3	2...d5	49%	2,449	0.50 (both engines)	c5
1.e4 d5 2.Nc3 d4 3.Nce2 c5	4.d3	57%	2,067	0.53 (both engines)	Ng3
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3	3...Bg7	53%	1,973	0.54 (both engines)	d5
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3	5...Bg4	40%	1,464	0.54 (both engines)	Bf5

[Event "Most played blunders, club band, rank 1"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 { Englund Gambit. e5 was played 157,343 times here, 10.0% of the games that reached this position. } 1... e5 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: -0.24 after the best move, -1.48 after this one, a loss of 1.24 pawns. The best move is found by 11% of 1100s, 18% of 1500s and 35% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 1... Nf6 { The fix, -0.24 for the mover at depth 24. } 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 ) 2. dxe5 Nc6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bf4 h6 5. e3 *

[Event "Most played blunders, club band, rank 2"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 { King's Pawn Game: Busch-Gass Gambit. Bc5 was played 78,576 times here, 5.1% of the games that reached this position. } 2... Bc5 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: -0.28 after the best move, -1.95 after this one, a loss of 1.67 pawns. The best move is found by 58% of 1100s, 65% of 1500s and 73% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2... Nc6 { The fix, -0.28 for the mover at depth 24. } 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 ) 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. d4 Bb6 6. Bg5 *

[Event "Most played blunders, club band, rank 3"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 d5 { Scandinavian Defense. Nc3 was played 56,276 times here, 9.8% of the games that reached this position. } 2. Nc3 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.66 after the best move, -0.37 after this one, a loss of 1.03 pawns. The best move is found by 45% of 1100s, 73% of 1500s and 82% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2. exd5 { The fix, +0.66 for the mover at depth 24. } 2... Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5 4. Nf3 Bf5 5. Bd3 Bxd3 ) 2... d4 3. Nb1 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. c4 Nb6 *

[Event "Most played blunders, club band, rank 4"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 { King's Pawn Game: Damiano Defense. f6 was played 52,573 times here, 3.4% of the games that reached this position. } 2... f6 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: -0.28 after the best move, -2.09 after this one, a loss of 1.81 pawns. The best move is found by 58% of 1100s, 65% of 1500s and 73% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2... Nc6 { The fix, -0.28 for the mover at depth 24. } 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 ) 3. Nxe5 Qe7 4. Nf3 d5 5. d3 dxe4 6. dxe4 *

[Event "Most played blunders, club band, rank 5"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 d5 { Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit. Nf3 was played 51,495 times here, 8.9% of the games that reached this position. } 2. Nf3 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.66 after the best move, -0.98 after this one, a loss of 1.64 pawns. The best move is found by 45% of 1100s, 73% of 1500s and 82% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2. exd5 { The fix, +0.66 for the mover at depth 24. } 2... Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5 4. Nf3 Bf5 5. Bd3 Bxd3 ) 2... dxe4 3. Ng5 e5 4. Nxe4 Nc6 5. Bc4 f5 *

[Event "Most played blunders, club band, rank 6"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Bc5 { King's Pawn Game: Busch-Gass Gambit. Bc4 was played 26,402 times here, 33.6% of the games that reached this position. } 3. Bc4 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +1.77 after the best move, +0.13 after this one, a loss of 1.64 pawns. The best move is found by 29% of 1100s, 15% of 1500s and 17% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 3. Nxe5 { The fix, +1.77 for the mover at depth 24. } 3... d6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. d4 Bb6 6. a4 Nc6 ) 3... Nc6 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 *

[Event "Most played blunders, club band, rank 7"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. Nf3 { Zukertort Opening: Ross Gambit. e5 was played 22,609 times here, 11.6% of the games that reached this position. } 1... e5 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: -0.28 after the best move, -1.51 after this one, a loss of 1.23 pawns. The best move is found by 7% of 1100s, 11% of 1500s and 24% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 1... Nf6 { The fix, -0.28 for the mover at depth 24. } 2. d4 e6 3. c4 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 ) 2. Nxe5 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 *

[Event "Most played blunders, club band, rank 8"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. Qh5 { King's Pawn Game: Wayward Queen Attack. g6 was played 19,979 times here, 10.8% of the games that reached this position. } 2... g6 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.25 after the best move, -7.52 after this one, a loss of 7.77 pawns. The best move is found by 41% of 1100s, 55% of 1500s and 58% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2... Nc6 { The fix, +0.25 for the mover at depth 24. } 3. Bc4 g6 4. Qf3 Nf6 5. Ne2 Na5 6. d3 ) 3. Qxe5+ Qe7 4. Qxh8 Nc6 5. Qc3 Nf6 6. d3 *

[Event "Most played blunders, club band, rank 9"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 d5 { Scandinavian Defense. d4 was played 18,550 times here, 3.2% of the games that reached this position. } 2. d4 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.66 after the best move, -0.67 after this one, a loss of 1.33 pawns. The best move is found by 45% of 1100s, 73% of 1500s and 82% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2. exd5 { The fix, +0.66 for the mover at depth 24. } 2... Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5 4. Nf3 Bf5 5. Bd3 Bxd3 ) 2... dxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. f3 exf3 5. Nxf3 g6 *

[Event "Most played blunders, club band, rank 10"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 d5 { Scandinavian Defense. f3 was played 17,584 times here, 3.1% of the games that reached this position. } 2. f3 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.66 after the best move, -0.70 after this one, a loss of 1.36 pawns. The best move is found by 45% of 1100s, 73% of 1500s and 82% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2. exd5 { The fix, +0.66 for the mover at depth 24. } 2... Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5 4. Nf3 Bf5 5. Bd3 Bxd3 ) 2... e5 3. exd5 Ne7 4. Qe2 Nxd5 5. Qxe5+ Be6 *

[Event "Most played blunders, club band, rank 11"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 { Petrov's Defense: Three Knights Game. Bc5 was played 14,296 times here, 21.0% of the games that reached this position. } 3... Bc5 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: -0.08 after the best move, -1.23 after this one, a loss of 1.15 pawns. The best move is found by 40% of 1100s, 47% of 1500s and 56% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 3... Nc6 { The fix, -0.08 for the mover at depth 24. } 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 ) 4. Nxe5 Bd4 5. Nf3 Bxc3 6. dxc3 Nxe4 7. Bd3 *

[Event "Most played blunders, club band, rank 12"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 e5 { Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed French. e3 was played 14,135 times here, 9.0% of the games that reached this position. } 2. e3 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +1.46 after the best move, +0.19 after this one, a loss of 1.27 pawns. The best move is found by 51% of 1100s, 61% of 1500s and 63% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2. dxe5 { The fix, +1.46 for the mover at depth 24. } 2... Nc6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bf4 Nge7 5. e3 h6 ) 2... exd4 3. exd4 d5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 Bd6 *

[Event "Most played blunders, club band, rank 13"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e3 e5 { Van't Kruijs Opening. Qh5 was played 13,968 times here, 12.9% of the games that reached this position. } 2. Qh5 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.17 after the best move, -0.96 after this one, a loss of 1.13 pawns. The best move is found by 17% of 1100s, 16% of 1500s and 30% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2. d4 { The fix, +0.17 for the mover at depth 24. } 2... exd4 3. exd4 d5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 c5 ) 2... Nc6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Qd1 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 *

[Event "Most played blunders, club band, rank 14"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 { Scotch Game. Nf6 was played 13,793 times here, 10.0% of the games that reached this position. } 3... Nf6 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: -0.02 after the best move, -1.30 after this one, a loss of 1.28 pawns. The best move is found by 50% of 1100s, 80% of 1500s and 93% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 3... exd4 { The fix, -0.02 for the mover at depth 24. } 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 ) 4. d5 Nb8 5. Nxe5 Qe7 6. Nd3 Nxe4 7. Be2 *

[Event "Most played blunders, club band, rank 15"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 e5 { Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Alekhine. Nf3 was played 13,724 times here, 8.7% of the games that reached this position. } 2. Nf3 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +1.46 after the best move, -0.27 after this one, a loss of 1.73 pawns. The best move is found by 51% of 1100s, 61% of 1500s and 63% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2. dxe5 { The fix, +1.46 for the mover at depth 24. } 2... Nc6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bf4 Nge7 5. e3 h6 ) 2... e4 3. Nfd2 d5 4. c4 c6 5. Nc3 Nf6 *

[Event "Most played blunders, club band, rank 16"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 d5 { Scandinavian Defense. Qf3 was played 12,536 times here, 2.2% of the games that reached this position. } 2. Qf3 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.66 after the best move, -0.62 after this one, a loss of 1.28 pawns. The best move is found by 45% of 1100s, 73% of 1500s and 82% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2. exd5 { The fix, +0.66 for the mover at depth 24. } 2... Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5 4. Nf3 Bf5 5. Bd3 Bxd3 ) 2... dxe4 3. Qxe4 Nf6 4. Qd3 Bd7 5. Nf3 Nc6 *

[Event "Most played blunders, club band, rank 17"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Bc5 { King's Pawn Game: Busch-Gass Gambit. Nc3 was played 12,426 times here, 15.8% of the games that reached this position. } 3. Nc3 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +1.77 after the best move, +0.30 after this one, a loss of 1.47 pawns. The best move is found by 29% of 1100s, 15% of 1500s and 17% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 3. Nxe5 { The fix, +1.77 for the mover at depth 24. } 3... d6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. d4 Bb6 6. a4 Nc6 ) 3... d6 4. Na4 Nf6 5. Nxc5 dxc5 6. d3 Qe7 *

[Event "Most played blunders, club band, rank 18"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6 { King's Pawn Game: Damiano Defense. Nc3 was played 11,942 times here, 22.7% of the games that reached this position. } 3. Nc3 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +2.19 after the best move, +1.16 after this one, a loss of 1.03 pawns. The best move is found by 6% of 1100s, 7% of 1500s and 12% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 3. Nxe5 { The fix, +2.19 for the mover at depth 24. } 3... Qe7 4. Nf3 d5 5. d3 Nc6 6. Nc3 Be6 ) 3... Nc6 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. a4 Bg4 *

[Event "Most played blunders, club band, rank 19"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. d4 { King's Pawn Game: Beyer Gambit. d5 was played 11,061 times here, 5.8% of the games that reached this position. } 2... d5 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.08 after the best move, -2.05 after this one, a loss of 2.13 pawns. The best move is found by 43% of 1100s, 74% of 1500s and 85% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2... exd4 { The fix, +0.08 for the mover at depth 24. } 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 Nc6 5. a3 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 ) 3. dxe5 c6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. exd5 cxd5 6. Nc3 *

[Event "Most played blunders, club band, rank 20"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 e5 { Englund Gambit Declined. d5 was played 10,741 times here, 6.8% of the games that reached this position. } 2. d5 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +1.46 after the best move, -0.12 after this one, a loss of 1.58 pawns. The best move is found by 51% of 1100s, 61% of 1500s and 63% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2. dxe5 { The fix, +1.46 for the mover at depth 24. } 2... Nc6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bf4 Nge7 5. e3 h6 ) 2... Bc5 3. e4 d6 4. Bd3 Ne7 5. Ne2 a5 *

The twenty most played blunders at 1100 and under, one game each. The side line is the fix, the main line is the punishment. Download the PGN.

[Event "Most played blunders, strong band, rank 1"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 { Englund Gambit. e5 was played 55,650 times here, 3.4% of the games that reached this position. } 1... e5 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: -0.24 after the best move, -1.48 after this one, a loss of 1.24 pawns. The best move is found by 11% of 1100s, 18% of 1500s and 35% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 1... Nf6 { The fix, -0.24 for the mover at depth 24. } 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 ) 2. dxe5 Nc6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bf4 h6 5. e3 *

[Event "Most played blunders, strong band, rank 2"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 d5 { Scandinavian Defense. Nc3 was played 29,558 times here, 13.1% of the games that reached this position. } 2. Nc3 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.66 after the best move, -0.37 after this one, a loss of 1.03 pawns. The best move is found by 45% of 1100s, 73% of 1500s and 82% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2. exd5 { The fix, +0.66 for the mover at depth 24. } 2... Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5 4. Nf3 Bf5 5. Bd3 Bxd3 ) 2... d4 3. Nb1 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. c4 Nb6 *

[Event "Most played blunders, strong band, rank 3"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. Nf3 { Zukertort Opening: Ross Gambit. e5 was played 15,661 times here, 3.1% of the games that reached this position. } 1... e5 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: -0.28 after the best move, -1.51 after this one, a loss of 1.23 pawns. The best move is found by 7% of 1100s, 11% of 1500s and 24% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 1... Nf6 { The fix, -0.28 for the mover at depth 24. } 2. d4 e6 3. c4 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 ) 2. Nxe5 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 *

[Event "Most played blunders, strong band, rank 4"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 d5 { Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit. Nf3 was played 13,108 times here, 5.8% of the games that reached this position. } 2. Nf3 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.66 after the best move, -0.98 after this one, a loss of 1.64 pawns. The best move is found by 45% of 1100s, 73% of 1500s and 82% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2. exd5 { The fix, +0.66 for the mover at depth 24. } 2... Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5 4. Nf3 Bf5 5. Bd3 Bxd3 ) 2... dxe4 3. Ng5 e5 4. Nxe4 Nc6 5. Bc4 f5 *

[Event "Most played blunders, strong band, rank 5"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 e5 { Englund Gambit. c4 was played 9,920 times here, 17.8% of the games that reached this position. } 2. c4 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +1.46 after the best move, -0.06 after this one, a loss of 1.52 pawns. The best move is found by 51% of 1100s, 61% of 1500s and 63% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2. dxe5 { The fix, +1.46 for the mover at depth 24. } 2... Nc6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bf4 Nge7 5. e3 h6 ) 2... exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qd1 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 *

[Event "Most played blunders, strong band, rank 6"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 d5 { Scandinavian Defense. d4 was played 9,863 times here, 4.4% of the games that reached this position. } 2. d4 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.66 after the best move, -0.67 after this one, a loss of 1.33 pawns. The best move is found by 45% of 1100s, 73% of 1500s and 82% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2. exd5 { The fix, +0.66 for the mover at depth 24. } 2... Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5 4. Nf3 Bf5 5. Bd3 Bxd3 ) 2... dxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. f3 exf3 5. Nxf3 g6 *

[Event "Most played blunders, strong band, rank 7"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 e5 { Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed Alekhine. Nf3 was played 9,324 times here, 16.8% of the games that reached this position. } 2. Nf3 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +1.46 after the best move, -0.27 after this one, a loss of 1.73 pawns. The best move is found by 51% of 1100s, 61% of 1500s and 63% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2. dxe5 { The fix, +1.46 for the mover at depth 24. } 2... Nc6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bf4 Nge7 5. e3 h6 ) 2... e4 3. Nfd2 d5 4. c4 c6 5. Nc3 Nf6 *

[Event "Most played blunders, strong band, rank 8"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 c5 2. d4 { Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit. Nc6 was played 5,165 times here, 8.1% of the games that reached this position. } 2... Nc6 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: -0.10 after the best move, -1.76 after this one, a loss of 1.66 pawns. The best move is found by 59% of 1100s, 83% of 1500s and 87% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2... cxd4 { The fix, -0.10 for the mover at depth 24. } 3. Nf3 e5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Bc4 Nf6 6. Ng5 ) 3. d5 Na5 4. Nf3 a6 5. a3 e6 6. d6 *

[Event "Most played blunders, strong band, rank 9"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. Nf3 e5 { Hungarian Opening: Reversed Alekhine. g3 was played 4,773 times here, 30.5% of the games that reached this position. } 2. g3 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +1.50 after the best move, -0.12 after this one, a loss of 1.62 pawns. The best move is found by 48% of 1100s, 46% of 1500s and 59% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2. Nxe5 { The fix, +1.50 for the mover at depth 24. } 2... Nf6 3. d4 Be7 4. g3 d6 5. Nd3 d5 ) 2... e4 3. Nh4 d5 4. d3 exd3 5. cxd3 Be7 *

[Event "Most played blunders, strong band, rank 10"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 c5 2. d4 { Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit. d6 was played 4,515 times here, 7.1% of the games that reached this position. } 2... d6 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: -0.10 after the best move, -1.24 after this one, a loss of 1.14 pawns. The best move is found by 59% of 1100s, 83% of 1500s and 87% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2... cxd4 { The fix, -0.10 for the mover at depth 24. } 3. Nf3 e5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Bc4 Nf6 6. Ng5 ) 3. dxc5 Qa5+ 4. Nc3 Qxc5 5. Be3 Qa5 6. Qd5 *

[Event "Most played blunders, strong band, rank 11"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 Nf6 { Alekhine Defense. Nf3 was played 4,355 times here, 4.6% of the games that reached this position. } 2. Nf3 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.84 after the best move, -0.60 after this one, a loss of 1.44 pawns. The best move is found by 24% of 1100s, 43% of 1500s and 60% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2. e5 { The fix, +0.84 for the mover at depth 24. } 2... Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4 dxe5 ) 2... Nxe4 3. d4 g6 4. c4 Bg7 5. Bd3 Nf6 *

[Event "Most played blunders, strong band, rank 12"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 e5 { Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed French. e3 was played 4,233 times here, 7.6% of the games that reached this position. } 2. e3 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +1.46 after the best move, +0.19 after this one, a loss of 1.27 pawns. The best move is found by 51% of 1100s, 61% of 1500s and 63% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2. dxe5 { The fix, +1.46 for the mover at depth 24. } 2... Nc6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bf4 Nge7 5. e3 h6 ) 2... exd4 3. exd4 d5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 Bd6 *

[Event "Most played blunders, strong band, rank 13"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. c4 d5 { English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense. Nc3 was played 4,058 times here, 24.5% of the games that reached this position. } 2. Nc3 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.61 after the best move, -1.11 after this one, a loss of 1.72 pawns. The best move is found by 42% of 1100s, 68% of 1500s and 78% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2. cxd5 { The fix, +0.61 for the mover at depth 24. } 2... c6 3. dxc6 Nxc6 4. g3 e5 5. Bg2 Bc5 ) 2... d4 3. Nb1 e5 4. d3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Nf6 *

[Event "Most played blunders, strong band, rank 14"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 c5 { Benoni Defense: Old Benoni. Bf4 was played 3,129 times here, 2.1% of the games that reached this position. } 2. Bf4 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.70 after the best move, -0.64 after this one, a loss of 1.34 pawns. The best move is found by 14% of 1100s, 28% of 1500s and 44% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2. d5 { The fix, +0.70 for the mover at depth 24. } 2... Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. e4 d6 5. dxe6 fxe6 ) 2... cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 *

[Event "Most played blunders, strong band, rank 15"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 e5 { Englund Gambit. c3 was played 3,122 times here, 5.6% of the games that reached this position. } 2. c3 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +1.46 after the best move, -0.05 after this one, a loss of 1.51 pawns. The best move is found by 51% of 1100s, 61% of 1500s and 63% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2. dxe5 { The fix, +1.46 for the mover at depth 24. } 2... Nc6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bf4 Nge7 5. e3 h6 ) 2... e4 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 d5 5. Bf4 Bb4 *

[Event "Most played blunders, strong band, rank 16"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 { Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit. Nc6 was played 2,716 times here, 18.4% of the games that reached this position. } 3... Nc6 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: -0.38 after the best move, -2.17 after this one, a loss of 1.79 pawns. The best move is found by 23% of 1100s, 40% of 1500s and 78% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 3... d6 { The fix, -0.38 for the mover at depth 24. } 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O ) 4. Nxc6 bxc6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O *

[Event "Most played blunders, strong band, rank 17"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 Nf6 { Alekhine Defense. d4 was played 2,668 times here, 2.8% of the games that reached this position. } 2. d4 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.84 after the best move, -0.68 after this one, a loss of 1.52 pawns. The best move is found by 24% of 1100s, 43% of 1500s and 60% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2. e5 { The fix, +0.84 for the mover at depth 24. } 2... Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4 dxe5 ) 2... Nxe4 3. Nf3 d5 4. c4 e6 5. Nc3 Be7 *

[Event "Most played blunders, strong band, rank 18"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 { Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation. c4 was played 2,503 times here, 2.6% of the games that reached this position. } 3. c4 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.71 after the best move, -0.45 after this one, a loss of 1.16 pawns. The best move is found by 83% of 1100s, 80% of 1500s and 67% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 3. Nc3 { The fix, +0.71 for the mover at depth 24. } 3... Qd8 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Bf4 Bg7 ) 3... Qe4+ 4. Ne2 Qxc4 5. d4 g6 6. Nbc3 Bg7 *

[Event "Most played blunders, strong band, rank 19"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 e5 { Englund Gambit. Nc3 was played 2,459 times here, 4.4% of the games that reached this position. } 2. Nc3 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +1.46 after the best move, +0.30 after this one, a loss of 1.16 pawns. The best move is found by 51% of 1100s, 61% of 1500s and 63% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2. dxe5 { The fix, +1.46 for the mover at depth 24. } 2... Nc6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bf4 Nge7 5. e3 h6 ) 2... exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qd3 Bc5 5. Nf3 d6 *

[Event "Most played blunders, strong band, rank 20"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. d4 { Center Game. Nf6 was played 2,058 times here, 6.5% of the games that reached this position. } 2... Nf6 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.08 after the best move, -1.64 after this one, a loss of 1.72 pawns. The best move is found by 43% of 1100s, 74% of 1500s and 85% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2... exd4 { The fix, +0.08 for the mover at depth 24. } 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 Nc6 5. a3 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 ) 3. dxe5 Nxe4 4. Qe2 Nc5 5. Nc3 b5 6. Be3 *

The twenty most played blunders at 2200 and over. Download the PGN.

[Event "Wrong most played move, strong band, rank 1"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6 { Queen's Gambit Declined: Marshall Defense. Nc3 was played 8,138 times here, 46.7% of the games that reached this position. } 3. Nc3 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.64 after the best move, +0.13 after this one, a loss of 0.51 pawns. The best move is found by 14% of 1100s, 13% of 1500s and 25% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 3. cxd5 { The fix, +0.64 for the mover at depth 24. } 3... c6 4. dxc6 Nxc6 5. Nf3 e5 6. dxe5 Qxd1+ ) 3... dxc4 4. e3 a6 5. Bxc4 b5 6. Be2 e6 *

[Event "Wrong most played move, strong band, rank 2"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 d5 2. Nf3 dxe4 3. Ng5 { Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit. Nf6 was played 6,267 times here, 61.0% of the games that reached this position. } 3... Nf6 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +1.12 after the best move, +0.39 after this one, a loss of 0.73 pawns. The best move is found by 10% of 1100s, 19% of 1500s and 21% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 3... Bf5 { The fix, +1.12 for the mover at depth 24. } 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. d3 exd3 6. Qf3 Qc8 7. Bxd3 ) 4. Bc4 e6 5. Nc3 b6 6. Ncxe4 Nxe4 7. Nxe4 *

[Event "Wrong most played move, strong band, rank 3"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. d4 { Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation. Qd8 was played 4,019 times here, 42.1% of the games that reached this position. } 3... Qd8 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: -0.19 after the best move, -0.69 after this one, a loss of 0.50 pawns. The best move is found by 22% of 1100s, 23% of 1500s and 16% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 3... Nc6 { The fix, -0.19 for the mover at depth 24. } 4. Nf3 e5 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. Bxc3 ) 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Bf4 Bg7 7. Qd2 *

[Event "Wrong most played move, strong band, rank 4"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 c5 2. c4 cxd4 3. Nf3 { Benoni Defense: Old Benoni. Nc6 was played 3,454 times here, 55.6% of the games that reached this position. } 3... Nc6 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.58 after the best move, -0.22 after this one, a loss of 0.80 pawns. The best move is found by 4% of 1100s, 3% of 1500s and 11% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 3... e5 { The fix, +0.58 for the mover at depth 24. } 4. e3 dxe3 5. Bxe3 Nc6 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. Be2 ) 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. g3 Bc5 7. Nb3 *

[Event "Wrong most played move, strong band, rank 5"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 d5 2. Nf3 dxe4 3. Ng5 Nf6 { Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit. Nc3 was played 2,822 times here, 45.0% of the games that reached this position. } 4. Nc3 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: -0.33 after the best move, -1.16 after this one, a loss of 0.83 pawns. The best move is found by 34% of 1100s, 22% of 1500s and 21% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 4. Bc4 { The fix, -0.33 for the mover at depth 24. } 4... e6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. O-O Be7 7. Ncxe4 Nxe4 ) 4... Bg4 5. Be2 Bf5 6. f3 exf3 7. Bxf3 c6 *

[Event "Wrong most played move, strong band, rank 6"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 { King's Indian Attack: French Variation. O-O was played 2,516 times here, 56.8% of the games that reached this position. } 4. O-O { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.32 after the best move, -0.27 after this one, a loss of 0.59 pawns. The best move is found by 9% of 1100s, 7% of 1500s and 21% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 4. d4 { The fix, +0.32 for the mover at depth 24. } 4... Nf6 5. O-O e6 6. c4 dxc4 7. dxc5 Qxd1 ) 4... e5 5. c4 dxc4 6. Qa4 Bd7 7. Qxc4 Be7 *

[Event "Wrong most played move, strong band, rank 7"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. d3 { Alekhine Defense: Maróczy Variation. d5 was played 2,449 times here, 49.4% of the games that reached this position. } 2... d5 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.06 after the best move, -0.44 after this one, a loss of 0.50 pawns. The best move is found by 2% of 1100s, 2% of 1500s and 1% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 2... c5 { The fix, +0.06 for the mover at depth 24. } 3. Be2 Nc6 4. f4 d6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Nc3 ) 3. e5 Ng8 4. d4 c5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. dxc5 *

[Event "Wrong most played move, strong band, rank 8"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 d5 2. Nc3 d4 3. Nce2 c5 { Scandinavian Defense. d3 was played 2,067 times here, 57.3% of the games that reached this position. } 4. d3 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: -0.02 after the best move, -0.55 after this one, a loss of 0.53 pawns. The best move is found by 2% of 1100s, 23% of 1500s and 41% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 4. Ng3 { The fix, -0.02 for the mover at depth 24. } 4... a6 5. Bc4 Nf6 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 Nc6 ) 4... e5 5. f4 Nc6 6. Nf3 exf4 7. Nxf4 Bd6 *

[Event "Wrong most played move, strong band, rank 9"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. Nc3 { Indian Defense: Accelerated London System. Bg7 was played 1,973 times here, 52.8% of the games that reached this position. } 3... Bg7 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: -0.03 after the best move, -0.57 after this one, a loss of 0.54 pawns. The best move is found by 4% of 1100s, 6% of 1500s and 12% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 3... d5 { The fix, -0.03 for the mover at depth 24. } 4. e3 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Nb5 Na6 7. h3 ) 4. e4 c5 5. dxc5 Qa5 6. f3 Qxc5 7. Qd2 *

[Event "Wrong most played move, strong band, rank 10"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 { Scandinavian Defense: Main Line, Mieses Variation. Bg4 was played 1,464 times here, 40.4% of the games that reached this position. } 5... Bg4 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: -0.65 after the best move, -1.19 after this one, a loss of 0.54 pawns. The best move is found by 8% of 1100s, 8% of 1500s and 8% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 5... Bf5 { The fix, -0.65 for the mover at depth 24. } 6. Ne5 c6 7. Bc4 e6 8. g4 Bg6 9. h4 ) 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Qxf3 c6 8. Bd2 Nbd7 9. O-O-O *

[Event "Wrong most played move, strong band, rank 11"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. c4 d5 2. Nc3 d4 { English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense. Ne4 was played 1,312 times here, 61.7% of the games that reached this position. } 3. Ne4 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: -1.05 after the best move, -2.19 after this one, a loss of 1.14 pawns. The best move is found by 6% of 1100s, 16% of 1500s and 22% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 3. Nb1 { The fix, -1.05 for the mover at depth 24. } 3... e5 4. d3 h6 5. g3 Nf6 6. Bg2 c5 ) 3... f5 4. Ng3 h5 5. h4 e5 6. a3 Nf6 *

[Event "Wrong most played move, strong band, rank 12"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. c4 { Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation. Qd8 was played 1,290 times here, 51.5% of the games that reached this position. } 3... Qd8 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.48 after the best move, -0.48 after this one, a loss of 0.96 pawns. The best move is found by 17% of 1100s, 9% of 1500s and 5% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 3... Qe4+ { The fix, +0.48 for the mover at depth 24. } 4. Ne2 Qxc4 5. d4 Nf6 6. Nbc3 g6 7. a3 ) 4. Nf3 e5 5. Nxe5 Bc5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be2 *

[Event "Wrong most played move, strong band, rank 13"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 c5 2. c4 cxd4 3. e3 { Queen's Pawn Game: Liedmann Gambit. Nc6 was played 1,154 times here, 43.9% of the games that reached this position. } 3... Nc6 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: +0.71 after the best move, -0.27 after this one, a loss of 0.98 pawns. The best move is found by 52% of 1100s, 63% of 1500s and 75% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 3... dxe3 { The fix, +0.71 for the mover at depth 24. } 4. Bxe3 b6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb7 7. Bd3 ) 4. exd4 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Nc3 *

[Event "Wrong most played move, strong band, rank 14"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qe6+ 4. Be2 { Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation. Qg6 was played 1,133 times here, 61.3% of the games that reached this position. } 4... Qg6 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: -1.04 after the best move, -1.95 after this one, a loss of 0.91 pawns. The best move is found by 0% of 1100s, 0% of 1500s and 0% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 4... Qd6 { The fix, -1.04 for the mover at depth 24. } 5. Nf3 c6 6. d4 Nf6 7. O-O Bg4 8. Ne5 ) 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. d4 Nf6 7. Ne5 e6 8. a4 *

[Event "Wrong most played move, strong band, rank 15"]
[Site "Lichess September 2026"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mistake"]
[Black "Punishment"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 Nc6 3. Nf3 Qe7 4. Bf4 Qb4+ 5. Bd2 { Englund Gambit: Main Line. Qxb2 was played 1,100 times here, 94.3% of the games that reached this position. } 5... Qxb2 { The mistake. Stockfish 19 depth 24 for the mover: -2.12 after the best move, -2.64 after this one, a loss of 0.52 pawns. The best move is found by 3% of 1100s, 1% of 1500s and 0% of 1900s (Maia). } ( 5... Qc5 { The fix, -2.12 for the mover at depth 24. } 6. Nc3 Nxe5 7. e4 Nf6 8. Nxe5 Qxe5 9. f4 ) 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Rb1 Qa3 8. Nd5 Bxd2+ 9. Qxd2 *

Where the most played move at 2200+ is the wrong one. Download the PGN.

Beating the gambits you actually face

The engine answer to any gambit is a few clicks away. What it does not tell you is which defence wins games against people. So for the gambits players actually meet, I took the engine's top three replies plus the two most popular human replies, and played each one out 800 times against the Maia human-move model: once with the defender playing Stockfish moves for twelve plies (you know the line), once with both sides human (you do not). Twelve plies, then Stockfish scores the position. The practical pick is the highest scoring reply among those the engine rates within 0.3 of its first choice, so a trap that is objectively worse never gets recommended, though I list it when it scores higher.

Per 1,000 games with both players under 1100, the Englund appears 21 times, the Busch-Gass 11, the King's Gambit 8, the Elephant 4.6. Among 2200+ players the Englund is still first at 10 per 1,000, then the Smith-Morra at 5.3, the King's Gambit 3.2, the Blackburne-Kloosterboer 2.4 and the Benko 2.0. The Jerome and the Cochrane are rounding errors at every level. The full count for 28 gambits and four rating bands is in the table and the repository.

For most of the fourteen gambits in each band the engine's reply is also the practical one, or within a point of it, and it is nearly always the capture: 2.dxe5 against the Englund, 3.Nxe5 against the Busch-Gass and the Latvian, 3.exd5 against the Elephant, 4.Nxc6 against the Stafford, 3.dxc6 against the Blackburne-Kloosterboer, 4.Nxd4 against the Blackburne Shilling. The one everyone gets wrong is the Tennison: after 1.e4 d5 2.Nf3 dxe4 3.Ng5, half of 1900-level players answer 3...Nf6 and it scores 79 percent; 3...Bf5 scores 90. Ten points for one move.

The interesting rows are where practice and the engine part ways. The Danish is the clearest: 3...Qe7, which almost nobody plays, scores 87 percent at 1100 level against 83 for taking the pawn, and 80 against 73 at 1900 level, while the engine rates the two moves a tenth of a pawn apart. The Wing Gambit is the biggest gap: 2...e5 or 2...d5 score 80 at 1900 level, and 2...cxb4, the move 63 percent of people play, scores 65. Facing the Benko, 4.Nf3 outscores 4.cxb5 by six points. In the Smith-Morra at 1900 level 3...Nf6 edges out taking, and the rare 3...e5 scores highest of all, but the engine likes it a third of a pawn less, so it stays a trap option. The Scotch Gambit splits by level: under-1100 players do best with 4...Bc5, 1900s with 4...Nf6.

Knowing the line is the whole edge. With both sides played by the human model, every reply lands between 36 and 63 percent and most sit near 50, gambit or not. With the defender playing the engine's moves for six moves, the practical picks score 65 to 95. The gap between the best and worst reply is usually 5 to 15 points; the gap between knowing the line and not knowing it is 25 to 40. Standard errors are about half a point in the prepared runs and one point in the unprepared ones.

A caveat on the strong band: Maia 1900 is the strongest human model available, so the 2200+ gambiteer is played by a 1900-level model. The frequencies are real 2200+ games; the scores are against a somewhat weaker opponent than the one you will meet.

Both players 1100 or under, defender's expected score when the defender knows the line (Stockfish depth 12 for twelve plies) against Maia 1100
Gambit	Per 1,000 games	Engine's reply	Practical pick	Pick scores	Engine reply scores	Most common human reply
Englund	21.4	dxe5 (+1.53)	dxe5 (+1.53)	86%	86%	dxe5 (51% play it): 86%
Busch-Gass	10.7	Nxe5 (+1.88)	Nxe5 (+1.88)	93%	93%	Bc4 (30% play it): 90%
King's Gambit	7.9	exf4 (+0.46)	exf4 (+0.46)	83%	83%	exf4 (47% play it): 83%
Elephant	4.6	exd5 (+0.97)	Nxe5 (+0.71)	92%	89%	exd5 (47% play it): 89%
Tennison	2.2	Bf5 (+1.15)	Bf5 (+1.15)	90%	90%	Nf6 (29% play it): 89%
Danish	1.7	dxc3 (+0.34)	Qe7 (+0.24)	87%	83%	dxc3 (75% play it): 83%
Boehnke	1.5	Bb5+ (+1.15)	dxe6 (+1.01)	86%	85%	dxe6 (69% play it): 86%
Scotch Gambit	1.4	Bb4+ (+0.03)	Bc5 (-0.02)	90%	88%	Nf6 (25% play it): 89%
Blackburne-Kloosterboer	1.3	dxc6 (+0.87)	dxc6 (+0.87)	78%	78%	dxc6 (75% play it): 78%
Blackburne Shilling	1.3	Nxd4 (+1.25)	Nxd4 (+1.25)	91%	91%	Nxe5 (30% play it): 91%
Stafford	1.2	Nxc6 (+2.03)	Nxc6 (+2.03)	89%	89%	Nxc6 (62% play it): 89%
Latvian	1.2	Nxe5 (+1.58)	Nxe5 (+1.58)	95%	95%	exf5 (48% play it): 93%
Englund, 3.Nf3 Qe7	0.9	Bg5 (+1.62)	Nc3 (+1.53)	92%	90%	Bf4 (50% play it): 92%
Traxler	0.8	Bxf7+ (+1.24)	Bxf7+ (+1.24)	93%	93%	Nxf7 (92% play it): 95%

Both players 2200 or more, defender prepared, opponent Maia 1900
Gambit	Per 1,000 games	Engine's reply	Practical pick	Pick scores	Engine reply scores	Most common human reply
Englund	9.9	dxe5 (+1.49)	dxe5 (+1.49)	79%	79%	dxe5 (63% play it): 79%
Smith-Morra	5.3	dxc3 (+0.19)	Nf6 (-0.08)	65%	62%	dxc3 (60% play it): 62%
King's Gambit	3.2	exf4 (+0.60)	exf4 (+0.60)	71%	71%	exf4 (45% play it): 71%
Blackburne-Kloosterboer	2.4	dxc6 (+0.79)	dxc6 (+0.79)	78%	78%	dxc6 (71% play it): 78%
Benko	2.0	cxb5 (+0.53)	Nf3 (+0.25)	75%	69%	cxb5 (65% play it): 69%
Elephant	1.9	exd5 (+1.18)	exd5 (+1.18)	86%	86%	exd5 (50% play it): 86%
Tennison	1.8	Bf5 (+1.16)	Bf5 (+1.16)	90%	90%	Nf6 (50% play it): 79%
Scotch Gambit	1.7	Nf6 (+0.01)	Nf6 (+0.01)	81%	81%	Nf6 (35% play it): 81%
Budapest	1.5	dxe5 (+0.65)	dxe5 (+0.65)	77%	77%	dxe5 (62% play it): 77%
Albin	1.3	dxe5 (+0.79)	dxe5 (+0.79)	75%	75%	dxe5 (58% play it): 75%
Wing Gambit	1.2	cxb4 (+0.31)	e5 (+0.02)	80%	65%	cxb4 (63% play it): 65%
Danish	1.0	dxc3 (+0.27)	Qe7 (+0.24)	80%	73%	dxc3 (60% play it): 73%
Englund, 3.Nf3 Qe7	0.9	Bf4 (+1.79)	Bg5 (+1.64)	88%	87%	Bf4 (36% play it): 87%
Latvian	0.9	Nxe5 (+1.52)	exf5 (+1.44)	91%	90%	Nxe5 (38% play it): 90%

[Event "Anti-gambit: Englund (club)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Defender"]
[Black "Gambiteer"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 e5 { Defender to move. Engine best dxe5 (+153 cp). Practical pick at 1100: dxe5. } 2. dxe5 { eval22 +153 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 51.3%, prepared 1100: 85.9 +-0.4%, 1500: 82.0 +-0.4%, unprepared 1100: 59.1 +-0.9%. Most common human continuation: Nc6 (40%), then Nf3 d5 Bf4 h6 h4 Bc5 (+150 cp) } ( 2. d5 { eval22 -8 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 8.9%, prepared 1100: 73.3 +-0.5%, 1500: 67.8 +-0.5%, unprepared 1100: 46.1 +-0.8% } 2... e4 ) ( 2. Nc3 { eval22 +32 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 2.1%, prepared 1100: 78.8 +-0.5%, 1500: 69.2 +-0.5%, unprepared 1100: 48.3 +-0.9% } 2... exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qd3 Bc5 5. Nf3 d6 6. Be3 Bxe3 ) ( 2. e3 { eval22 +18 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 9.9%, prepared 1100: 79.8 +-0.5%, 1500: 70.0 +-0.5%, unprepared 1100: 48.5 +-0.8% } 2... exd4 3. exd4 d5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. c3 Bd6 6. Bd3 Nge7 ) 2... Nc6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bf4 h6 5. e3 g5 6. Bg3 Nge7 7. c4 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Busch-Gass (club)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Defender"]
[Black "Gambiteer"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Bc5 { Defender to move. Engine best Nxe5 (+188 cp). Practical pick at 1100: Nxe5. } 3. Nxe5 { eval22 +188 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 28.7%, prepared 1100: 92.7 +-0.2%, 1500: 90.8 +-0.2%, unprepared 1100: 56.9 +-1.2%. Most common human continuation: Qf6 (30%), then d4 d6 Nf3 Bb6 a4 a6 (+406 cp) } ( 3. Bc4 { eval22 +21 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 29.8%, prepared 1100: 89.6 +-0.4%, 1500: 82.6 +-0.5%, unprepared 1100: 53.3 +-1.2% } 3... Nc6 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. h3 a5 ) ( 3. c3 { eval22 +65 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 5.0%, prepared 1100: 87.3 +-0.4%, 1500: 80.9 +-0.5%, unprepared 1100: 55.4 +-0.9% } 3... d5 4. exd5 Nd7 5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Ngf6 7. Nb3 O-O ) ( 3. Nc3 { eval22 +33 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 12.2%, prepared 1100: 89.1 +-0.4%, 1500: 81.9 +-0.5%, unprepared 1100: 53.5 +-1.1% } 3... d6 4. Na4 Nf6 5. Nxc5 dxc5 6. d3 Nc6 7. Be3 Qe7 ) 3... Nc6 4. Nxc6 dxc6 5. c3 Qe7 6. Qe2 Nf6 7. d4 Bb6 8. a4 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: King's Gambit (club)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gambiteer"]
[Black "Defender"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. f4 { Defender to move. Engine best exf4 (+46 cp). Practical pick at 1100: exf4. } 2... exf4 { eval22 +46 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 46.6%, prepared 1100: 83.0 +-0.5%, 1500: 75.7 +-0.5%, unprepared 1100: 44.8 +-0.9%. Most common human continuation: Nf3 (76%), then g5 d4 g4 Ne5 Qh4+ g3 (+63 cp) } ( 2... d6 { eval22 -19 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 12.3%, prepared 1100: 85.0 +-0.5%, 1500: 77.5 +-0.5%, unprepared 1100: 46.2 +-0.9% } ) ( 2... d5 { eval22 +2 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 2.4%, prepared 1100: 88.6 +-0.5%, 1500: 78.7 +-0.6%, unprepared 1100: 49.9 +-1.0% } 3. exd5 exf4 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. c4 c6 6. d4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 ) ( 2... Nc6 { eval22 +0 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 21.3%, prepared 1100: 81.2 +-0.6%, 1500: 71.5 +-0.6%, unprepared 1100: 45.9 +-0.9% } 3. Nf3 exf4 4. d4 g5 5. d5 g4 6. dxc6 gxf3 7. Qxf3 ) 3. Nc3 Qh4+ 4. Ke2 d6 5. d4 g5 6. Nf3 Qh5 7. h4 Ne7 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Elephant (club)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Defender"]
[Black "Gambiteer"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 { Defender to move. Engine best exd5 (+97 cp). Practical pick at 1100: Nxe5. } 3. Nxe5 { eval22 +71 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 20.4%, prepared 1100: 91.7 +-0.3%, 1500: 88.9 +-0.3%, unprepared 1100: 50.0 +-1.2%. Most common human continuation: dxe4 (67%), then Bc4 Nh6 d4 Nd7 O-O Nxe5 (+75 cp) } ( 3. exd5 { eval22 +97 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 47.0%, prepared 1100: 89.3 +-0.3%, 1500: 86.6 +-0.3%, unprepared 1100: 56.7 +-1.0% } 3... e4 4. Qe2 Nf6 5. d3 Qxd5 6. Nbd2 Nc6 7. dxe4 Qe6 ) ( 3. Nc3 { eval22 -39 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 11.3%, prepared 1100: 78.7 +-0.5%, 1500: 71.7 +-0.5%, unprepared 1100: 45.1 +-1.1% } ) ( 3. d4 { eval22 +35 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 4.8%, prepared 1100: 88.9 +-0.4%, 1500: 85.0 +-0.5%, unprepared 1100: 51.9 +-1.1% } 3... exd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Qxd5 Qxd5 6. exd5 Nb4 7. Bb5+ Bd7 ) 3... Bd6 4. d4 dxe4 5. Bc4 Bxe5 6. Qh5 Qe7 7. Qxe5 Qxe5 8. dxe5 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Tennison (club)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gambiteer"]
[Black "Defender"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 d5 2. Nf3 dxe4 3. Ng5 { Defender to move. Engine best Bf5 (+115 cp). Practical pick at 1100: Bf5. } 3... Bf5 { eval22 +115 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 10.0%, prepared 1100: 90.1 +-0.3%, 1500: 87.2 +-0.3%, unprepared 1100: 55.5 +-1.2%. Most common human continuation: Bc4 (28%), then e6 d3 exd3 cxd3 Be7 Nf3 (+214 cp) } ( 3... Nf6 { eval22 +36 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 28.7%, prepared 1100: 88.6 +-0.3%, 1500: 82.3 +-0.4%, unprepared 1100: 57.7 +-1.1% } ) ( 3... e5 { eval22 +101 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 2.7%, prepared 1100: 86.8 +-0.4%, 1500: 83.6 +-0.4%, unprepared 1100: 52.4 +-1.1% } 4. h4 h6 5. Nxe4 Nc6 6. Bc4 Bf5 7. d3 Qd7 8. Be3 ) ( 3... e6 { eval22 +75 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 3.7%, prepared 1100: 87.0 +-0.4%, 1500: 81.1 +-0.5%, unprepared 1100: 53.8 +-1.1% } 4. Nxe4 f5 5. Nec3 Nc6 6. Bc4 a6 7. Ne2 Na5 8. Bb3 ) 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. d3 exd3 6. Qf3 Qc8 7. Bxd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 Qd7 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Danish (club)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gambiteer"]
[Black "Defender"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 { Defender to move. Engine best dxc3 (+34 cp). Practical pick at 1100: Qe7. } 3... Qe7 { eval22 +24 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 0.7%, prepared 1100: 86.8 +-0.4%, 1500: 84.8 +-0.4%, unprepared 1100: 52.1 +-1.0%. Most common human continuation: Qxd4 (29%), then Nf6 Nd2 Nc6 Qe3 d5 exd5 (+87 cp) } ( 3... dxc3 { eval22 +34 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 75.0%, prepared 1100: 83.4 +-0.4%, 1500: 78.9 +-0.5%, unprepared 1100: 48.4 +-1.1% } 4. Nxc3 Bc5 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 Nf6 7. e5 dxe5 8. Qxd8+ ) ( 3... Nc6 { eval22 -4 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 13.5%, prepared 1100: 79.8 +-0.5%, 1500: 77.2 +-0.6%, unprepared 1100: 50.0 +-1.0% } ) ( 3... d5 { eval22 +7 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 0.6%, prepared 1100: 83.8 +-0.5%, 1500: 77.0 +-0.5%, unprepared 1100: 52.2 +-1.0% } 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. cxd4 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Be2 Bxf3 8. Bxf3 ) 4. cxd4 Qxe4+ 5. Be3 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Nf3 Nd5 8. Qd2 Qe7 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Boehnke (club)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Defender"]
[Black "Gambiteer"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 e6 { Defender to move. Engine best Bb5+ (+115 cp). Practical pick at 1100: dxe6. } 3. dxe6 { eval22 +101 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 69.0%, prepared 1100: 85.6 +-0.3%, 1500: 80.6 +-0.4%, unprepared 1100: 55.4 +-0.9%. Most common human continuation: Bxe6 (76%), then Nf3 Nf6 Nc3 Nc6 d4 Bb4 (+104 cp) } ( 3. Bb5+ { eval22 +115 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 1.0%, prepared 1100: 85.0 +-0.4%, 1500: 78.2 +-0.4%, unprepared 1100: 55.0 +-1.0% } 3... c6 4. dxc6 bxc6 5. Be2 Bb7 6. Nf3 c5 7. d4 Nc6 ) ( 3. Nc3 { eval22 -1 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 18.2%, prepared 1100: 75.5 +-0.5%, 1500: 70.1 +-0.5%, unprepared 1100: 49.2 +-0.9% } ) ( 3. Qe2 { eval22 +39 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 0.7%, prepared 1100: 81.6 +-0.5%, 1500: 74.8 +-0.4%, unprepared 1100: 48.9 +-1.0% } 3... Qxd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qd7 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Bc5 ) 3... Bxe6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. d4 c5 6. Bb5+ Nc6 7. O-O Qb6 8. Nc3 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Scotch Gambit (club)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gambiteer"]
[Black "Defender"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 { Defender to move. Engine best Bb4+ (+3 cp). Practical pick at 1100: Bc5. } 4... Bc5 { eval22 -2 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 23.7%, prepared 1100: 90.4 +-0.3%, 1500: 83.4 +-0.5%, unprepared 1100: 50.8 +-1.3%. Most common human continuation: Ng5 (44%), then Nh6 Nxf7 Nxf7 Bxf7+ Kxf7 Qh5+ (-6 cp) } ( 4... Bb4+ { eval22 +3 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 6.2%, prepared 1100: 87.6 +-0.4%, 1500: 81.9 +-0.5%, unprepared 1100: 52.1 +-1.2% } 5. c3 dxc3 6. O-O Nf6 7. e5 d5 8. exf6 dxc4 9. Qxd8+ ) ( 4... h6 { eval22 -55 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 18.3%, prepared 1100: 80.0 +-0.5%, 1500: 75.1 +-0.6%, unprepared 1100: 42.4 +-1.1% } ) ( 4... Nf6 { eval22 -2 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 25.4%, prepared 1100: 88.7 +-0.3%, 1500: 85.2 +-0.4%, unprepared 1100: 52.1 +-1.2% } 5. e5 d5 6. Bb5 Nd7 7. O-O Be7 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. Nxd4 ) 5. c3 Nf6 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb6 9. h3 O-O *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Blackburne-Kloosterboer (club)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Defender"]
[Black "Gambiteer"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 c6 { Defender to move. Engine best dxc6 (+87 cp). Practical pick at 1100: dxc6. } 3. dxc6 { eval22 +87 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 75.3%, prepared 1100: 78.0 +-0.4%, 1500: 77.5 +-0.4%, unprepared 1100: 53.1 +-0.9%. Most common human continuation: Nxc6 (69%), then Nf3 e5 Nc3 Nf6 Bb5 Bd6 (+91 cp) } ( 3. Nc3 { eval22 +0 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 15.0%, prepared 1100: 69.7 +-0.6%, 1500: 64.4 +-0.5%, unprepared 1100: 50.7 +-0.8% } ) ( 3. d4 { eval22 +25 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 0.6%, prepared 1100: 76.8 +-0.5%, 1500: 72.9 +-0.5%, unprepared 1100: 50.4 +-0.7% } 3... cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Qb3 Nb6 ) ( 3. Nf3 { eval22 +25 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 1.1%, prepared 1100: 76.9 +-0.5%, 1500: 70.9 +-0.5%, unprepared 1100: 52.6 +-0.8% } 3... cxd5 4. d4 Nc6 5. c4 Bg4 6. cxd5 Qxd5 7. Be2 e6 ) 3... Nxc6 4. Nf3 e5 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Bb5 Bd6 7. d4 exd4 8. Qxd4 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Blackburne Shilling (club)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Defender"]
[Black "Gambiteer"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4 { Defender to move. Engine best Nxd4 (+125 cp). Practical pick at 1100: Nxd4. } 4. Nxd4 { eval22 +125 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 29.6%, prepared 1100: 91.3 +-0.3%, 1500: 89.6 +-0.3%, unprepared 1100: 54.9 +-1.0%. Most common human continuation: exd4 (99%), then O-O c6 Re1 d6 c3 Be7 (+131 cp) } ( 4. Nxe5 { eval22 -49 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 29.7%, prepared 1100: 90.6 +-0.4%, 1500: 81.0 +-0.6%, unprepared 1100: 37.1 +-1.4% } ) ( 4. O-O { eval22 +91 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 0.0%, prepared 1100: 92.5 +-0.3%, 1500: 88.4 +-0.4%, unprepared 1100: 63.3 +-1.0% } 4... Nxf3+ 5. Qxf3 Qf6 6. Qc3 a5 7. Qg3 Bc5 8. Nc3 c6 ) ( 4. a4 { eval22 +60 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 0.1%, prepared 1100: 88.1 +-0.4%, 1500: 80.7 +-0.5%, unprepared 1100: 55.7 +-1.1% } 4... Nxf3+ 5. Qxf3 Qf6 6. Qg3 d6 7. Nc3 c6 8. d3 Qg6 ) 4... exd4 5. O-O c6 6. Re1 d6 7. c3 Be7 8. d3 b5 9. Bb3 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Stafford (club)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Defender"]
[Black "Gambiteer"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6 { Defender to move. Engine best Nxc6 (+203 cp). Practical pick at 1100: Nxc6. } 4. Nxc6 { eval22 +203 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 62.4%, prepared 1100: 88.6 +-0.3%, 1500: 87.4 +-0.3%, unprepared 1100: 55.7 +-1.0%. Most common human continuation: dxc6 (73%), then d3 Be6 Be2 Qe7 Nc3 O-O-O (+190 cp) } ( 4. Nxf7 { eval22 -371 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 4.2%, prepared 1100: 77.7 +-0.7%, 1500: 77.2 +-0.6%, unprepared 1100: 38.0 +-1.2% } ) ( 4. d4 { eval22 +128 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 8.3%, prepared 1100: 91.2 +-0.2%, 1500: 88.0 +-0.3%, unprepared 1100: 55.2 +-1.1% } 4... Qe7 5. Nc3 Nxe5 6. dxe5 Qxe5 7. f4 Qe6 8. Qd4 d5 ) ( 4. Nf3 { eval22 +12 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 11.7%, prepared 1100: 82.2 +-0.5%, 1500: 77.9 +-0.6%, unprepared 1100: 53.6 +-1.1% } 4... Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Bc5 7. Be2 O-O 8. Bg5 Qe8 ) 4... dxc6 5. d3 Be6 6. Nd2 Qe7 7. Qe2 O-O-O 8. g3 h5 9. Nf3 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Latvian (club)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Defender"]
[Black "Gambiteer"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 { Defender to move. Engine best Nxe5 (+158 cp). Practical pick at 1100: Nxe5. } 3. Nxe5 { eval22 +158 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 18.7%, prepared 1100: 94.6 +-0.2%, 1500: 93.2 +-0.2%, unprepared 1100: 54.2 +-1.2%. Most common human continuation: fxe4 (45%), then Qh5+ g6 Nxg6 hxg6 Qxh8 Kf7 (+483 cp) } ( 3. exf5 { eval22 +127 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 47.5%, prepared 1100: 93.0 +-0.3%, 1500: 90.2 +-0.3%, unprepared 1100: 55.5 +-1.1% } 3... e4 4. Nd4 Qf6 5. Nb5 Qe5 6. Qe2 Kd8 7. N5c3 d5 ) ( 3. Nc3 { eval22 +142 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 12.9%, prepared 1100: 92.2 +-0.3%, 1500: 88.7 +-0.3%, unprepared 1100: 54.7 +-1.1% } 3... Nc6 4. exf5 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Bb4 7. Nxc6 bxc6 ) ( 3. Bc4 { eval22 +127 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 5.4%, prepared 1100: 93.7 +-0.3%, 1500: 91.2 +-0.3%, unprepared 1100: 51.6 +-1.2% } 3... fxe4 4. Nxe5 d5 5. Qh5+ g6 6. Nxg6 Nf6 7. Qe5+ Be7 ) 3... Qf6 4. d4 d6 5. Nc4 fxe4 6. Nc3 Qg6 7. f3 Nc6 8. d5 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Englund, 3.Nf3 Qe7 (club)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Defender"]
[Black "Gambiteer"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 Nc6 3. Nf3 Qe7 { Defender to move. Engine best Bg5 (+162 cp). Practical pick at 1100: Nc3. } 4. Nc3 { eval22 +153 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 10.2%, prepared 1100: 92.3 +-0.2%, 1500: 87.4 +-0.3%, unprepared 1100: 57.2 +-1.1%. Most common human continuation: Nxe5 (85%), then Bf4 Nxf3+ gxf3 c6 Qd2 Nf6 (+155 cp) } ( 4. Bg5 { eval22 +162 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 20.2%, prepared 1100: 89.6 +-0.3%, 1500: 87.9 +-0.3%, unprepared 1100: 53.2 +-1.2% } 4... Qe6 5. Bf4 d6 6. exd6 Qf6 7. Qc1 Bxd6 8. Bxd6 Qxd6 ) ( 4. e3 { eval22 +54 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 4.5%, prepared 1100: 85.0 +-0.4%, 1500: 80.7 +-0.4%, unprepared 1100: 52.2 +-1.0% } ) ( 4. Bf4 { eval22 +162 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 50.3%, prepared 1100: 91.5 +-0.3%, 1500: 88.1 +-0.4%, unprepared 1100: 45.6 +-1.3% } 4... d6 5. exd6 Qf6 6. Qc1 Bxd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8. Qd2 Qxd2+ ) 4... Nxe5 5. Bf4 d6 6. Qd4 Nc6 7. Qa4 Be6 8. Nd4 Qd7 9. Nxe6 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Traxler (club)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Defender"]
[Black "Gambiteer"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 { Defender to move. Engine best Bxf7+ (+124 cp). Practical pick at 1100: Bxf7+. } 5. Bxf7+ { eval22 +124 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 5.2%, prepared 1100: 92.7 +-0.2%, 1500: 91.1 +-0.3%, unprepared 1100: 52.3 +-1.3%. Most common human continuation: Kf8 (63%), then Bb3 Qe8 d3 d6 Nf3 a5 (+145 cp) } ( 5. d3 { eval22 -34 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 0.6%, prepared 1100: 91.6 +-0.3%, 1500: 88.7 +-0.3%, unprepared 1100: 60.5 +-1.3% } 5... O-O 6. Nc3 d6 7. h3 Na5 8. Bb3 Nxb3 9. axb3 a5 ) ( 5. d4 { eval22 +57 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 0.1%, prepared 1100: 92.3 +-0.3%, 1500: 90.6 +-0.3%, unprepared 1100: 59.1 +-1.3% } 5... d5 6. Bxd5 Nxd4 7. Bxf7+ Ke7 8. Bc4 b5 9. Bd3 Rf8 ) ( 5. Nxf7 { eval22 +4 cp, Maia 1100 plays it 91.7%, prepared 1100: 95.0 +-0.2%, 1500: 91.9 +-0.2%, unprepared 1100: 53.1 +-1.5% } 5... Bxf2+ 6. Kxf2 Nxe4+ 7. Ke3 Qh4 8. g3 Nxg3 9. hxg3 Qd4+ ) 5... Ke7 6. Bc4 Qe8 7. Nc3 Nd4 8. Na4 d5 9. c3 dxc4 10. Nxc5 *

Fourteen gambits faced at 1100 and under: the practical pick is the main line, the other replies are side lines, every simulated score is in the comments. Download the PGN.

[Event "Anti-gambit: Englund (strong)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Defender"]
[Black "Gambiteer"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 e5 { Defender to move. Engine best dxe5 (+149 cp). Practical pick at 1900: dxe5. } 2. dxe5 { eval22 +149 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 62.9%, prepared 1900: 78.8 +-0.4%, unprepared 1900: 52.3 +-0.8%. Most common human continuation: Nc6 (60%), then Nf3 d5 Bf4 f6 Nc3 Bb4 (+122 cp) } ( 2. d5 { eval22 -8 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 9.4%, prepared 1900: 62.1 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 46.7 +-0.6% } ) ( 2. Nc3 { eval22 +23 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 0.8%, prepared 1900: 64.4 +-0.4%, unprepared 1900: 47.3 +-0.6% } 2... exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qd3 Nf6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 ) ( 2. e3 { eval22 +14 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 5.8%, prepared 1900: 63.6 +-0.4%, unprepared 1900: 49.6 +-0.4% } 2... exd4 3. exd4 d5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 cxd4 ) 2... Nc6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bf4 h6 5. h4 Bg4 6. e3 Qd7 7. Be2 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Smith-Morra (strong)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gambiteer"]
[Black "Defender"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 { Defender to move. Engine best dxc3 (+19 cp). Practical pick at 1900: Nf6. } 3... Nf6 { eval22 -8 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 6.2%, prepared 1900: 64.6 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 45.7 +-0.6%. Most common human continuation: e5 (85%), then Nd5 cxd4 d6 Bc4 Nb6 Bb3 (-9 cp) } ( 3... dxc3 { eval22 +19 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 60.0%, prepared 1900: 61.9 +-0.3%, unprepared 1900: 48.8 +-0.7% } 4. Nxc3 e6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Be2 d6 7. O-O Be7 8. Qb3 ) ( 3... d3 { eval22 -68 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 15.2%, prepared 1900: 53.4 +-0.3%, unprepared 1900: 43.8 +-0.4% } ) ( 3... e5 { eval22 -13 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 1.4%, prepared 1900: 69.6 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 46.4 +-0.8% } 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. cxd4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Nxc6 ) 4. e5 Nd5 5. cxd4 d6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Bc4 Nb6 8. Bb5 dxe5 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: King's Gambit (strong)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gambiteer"]
[Black "Defender"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. f4 { Defender to move. Engine best exf4 (+60 cp). Practical pick at 1900: exf4. } 2... exf4 { eval22 +60 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 44.8%, prepared 1900: 71.0 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 48.0 +-0.8%. Most common human continuation: Nf3 (86%), then g5 Nc3 Nc6 g3 Nf6 d4 (+42 cp) } ( 2... d6 { eval22 -24 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 10.7%, prepared 1900: 71.0 +-0.4%, unprepared 1900: 44.2 +-0.6% } ) ( 2... d5 { eval22 +17 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 22.7%, prepared 1900: 71.2 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 43.8 +-0.8% } 3. exd5 exf4 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. c4 c6 6. d4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 ) ( 2... Nc6 { eval22 -4 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 12.5%, prepared 1900: 66.9 +-0.6%, unprepared 1900: 46.2 +-0.8% } 3. Nf3 exf4 4. d4 g5 5. d5 g4 6. dxc6 gxf3 7. Qxf3 ) 3. Nc3 Qh4+ 4. Ke2 d6 5. Nf3 Qf6 6. Nd5 Qd8 7. Nxf4 g5 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Blackburne-Kloosterboer (strong)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Defender"]
[Black "Gambiteer"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 c6 { Defender to move. Engine best dxc6 (+79 cp). Practical pick at 1900: dxc6. } 3. dxc6 { eval22 +79 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 71.1%, prepared 1900: 78.1 +-0.4%, unprepared 1900: 55.1 +-0.7%. Most common human continuation: e5 (44%), then cxb7 Bxb7 Nf3 Nc6 Nc3 Nf6 (+200 cp) } ( 3. Nc3 { eval22 -2 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 6.7%, prepared 1900: 62.4 +-0.4%, unprepared 1900: 48.9 +-0.5% } ) ( 3. c4 { eval22 +21 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 2.2%, prepared 1900: 66.4 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 51.2 +-0.5% } 3... cxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. cxd5 exd5 ) ( 3. d4 { eval22 +21 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 13.4%, prepared 1900: 70.5 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 51.8 +-0.4% } 3... cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. cxd5 exd5 ) 3... Nxc6 4. Bc4 e5 5. d3 Bd6 6. Nf3 h6 7. Nbd2 Nge7 8. O-O *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Benko (strong)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Defender"]
[Black "Gambiteer"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 { Defender to move. Engine best cxb5 (+53 cp). Practical pick at 1900: Nf3. } 4. Nf3 { eval22 +25 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 2.6%, prepared 1900: 74.7 +-0.4%, unprepared 1900: 50.9 +-0.6%. Most common human continuation: bxc4 (46%), then Nc3 g6 e4 d6 e5 dxe5 (+55 cp) } ( 4. cxb5 { eval22 +53 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 65.1%, prepared 1900: 69.0 +-0.4%, unprepared 1900: 52.9 +-0.5% } 4... a6 5. e3 e6 6. dxe6 fxe6 7. Nf3 d5 8. Nc3 c4 ) ( 4. b3 { eval22 -7 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 11.9%, prepared 1900: 69.6 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 47.9 +-0.7% } ) ( 4. Qc2 { eval22 +24 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 3.4%, prepared 1900: 72.2 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 50.5 +-0.6% } 4... b4 5. e4 d6 6. f4 g6 7. Bd3 Bg7 8. Nf3 O-O ) 4... b4 5. Nbd2 g6 6. e4 d6 7. e5 dxe5 8. Nxe5 Qc7 9. Nd3 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Elephant (strong)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Defender"]
[Black "Gambiteer"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 { Defender to move. Engine best exd5 (+118 cp). Practical pick at 1900: exd5. } 3. exd5 { eval22 +118 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 50.3%, prepared 1900: 86.1 +-0.3%, unprepared 1900: 55.2 +-0.9%. Most common human continuation: e4 (78%), then Qe2 Nf6 Nc3 Be7 Nxe4 Nxd5 (+107 cp) } ( 3. Nc3 { eval22 -34 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 7.1%, prepared 1900: 69.1 +-0.6%, unprepared 1900: 50.6 +-0.7% } ) ( 3. Nxe5 { eval22 +105 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 30.5%, prepared 1900: 85.0 +-0.4%, unprepared 1900: 51.1 +-0.9% } 3... Bd6 4. d4 dxe4 5. Bc4 Bxe5 6. Qh5 Qe7 7. Qxe5 Qxe5 ) ( 3. d4 { eval22 +45 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 7.2%, prepared 1900: 79.5 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 54.6 +-0.9% } 3... dxe4 4. Nxe5 Nd7 5. Qh5 Qe7 6. Bc4 g6 7. Bxf7+ Qxf7 ) 3... e4 4. Qe2 Nf6 5. d3 Qxd5 6. Nbd2 Nc6 7. dxe4 Qe6 8. h3 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Tennison (strong)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gambiteer"]
[Black "Defender"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 d5 2. Nf3 dxe4 3. Ng5 { Defender to move. Engine best Bf5 (+116 cp). Practical pick at 1900: Bf5. } 3... Bf5 { eval22 +116 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 20.6%, prepared 1900: 89.6 +-0.3%, unprepared 1900: 54.6 +-1.0%. Most common human continuation: Nc3 (53%), then Nf6 d3 exd3 Qf3 Qc8 Bxd3 (+119 cp) } ( 3... Nf6 { eval22 +33 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 50.1%, prepared 1900: 79.3 +-0.4%, unprepared 1900: 52.2 +-0.9% } 4. Bc4 e6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. O-O Be7 7. Ncxe4 Nxe4 8. Nxe4 ) ( 3... e5 { eval22 +97 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 9.4%, prepared 1900: 80.1 +-0.4%, unprepared 1900: 54.4 +-0.8% } 4. d3 Be7 5. Nxe4 f5 6. Ned2 Nf6 7. Be2 Be6 8. O-O ) ( 3... Nc6 { eval22 +73 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 2.2%, prepared 1900: 80.6 +-0.4%, unprepared 1900: 55.4 +-0.8% } 4. Bc4 e6 5. Nxe4 f5 6. Nec3 Nf6 7. d3 Bc5 8. h3 ) 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. d3 exd3 6. Qf3 Qc8 7. Bxd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 Qd7 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Scotch Gambit (strong)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gambiteer"]
[Black "Defender"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 { Defender to move. Engine best Nf6 (+1 cp). Practical pick at 1900: Nf6. } 4... Nf6 { eval22 +1 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 35.3%, prepared 1900: 81.3 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 55.7 +-1.0%. Most common human continuation: e5 (53%), then d5 Bb5 Nd7 O-O Be7 Bxc6 (-7 cp) } ( 4... d6 { eval22 -38 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 13.6%, prepared 1900: 69.9 +-0.6%, unprepared 1900: 44.6 +-0.8% } 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. h3 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 ) ( 4... Bb4+ { eval22 -2 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 5.2%, prepared 1900: 80.4 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 50.4 +-1.1% } 5. c3 dxc3 6. O-O Nf6 7. e5 d5 8. exf6 dxc4 9. Qxd8+ ) ( 4... Bc5 { eval22 -2 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 23.8%, prepared 1900: 74.7 +-0.6%, unprepared 1900: 48.4 +-1.0% } 5. c3 Nf6 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Nxe4 8. Bxb4 Nxb4 9. Bxf7+ ) 5. e5 d5 6. Bb5 Ne4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. O-O Be7 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Budapest (strong)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Defender"]
[Black "Gambiteer"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 { Defender to move. Engine best dxe5 (+65 cp). Practical pick at 1900: dxe5. } 3. dxe5 { eval22 +65 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 61.8%, prepared 1900: 76.7 +-0.4%, unprepared 1900: 56.0 +-0.7%. Most common human continuation: Ng4 (90%), then e4 Nxe5 f4 Nec6 Nc3 Bc5 (+77 cp) } ( 3. d5 { eval22 -21 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 18.6%, prepared 1900: 61.6 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 46.7 +-0.6% } 3... Bb4+ 4. Bd2 a5 5. e3 d6 6. Bd3 c6 7. Nc3 cxd5 ) ( 3. e3 { eval22 -5 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 5.8%, prepared 1900: 64.8 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 51.4 +-0.5% } 3... exd4 4. exd4 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Nf3 d5 7. Be2 Nc6 ) ( 3. Nc3 { eval22 -9 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 7.8%, prepared 1900: 61.8 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 48.3 +-0.6% } 3... exd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Qd1 Bb4 6. Bd2 O-O 7. e3 Re8 ) 3... Ng4 4. e4 Nxe5 5. f4 Nec6 6. Nc3 Bc5 7. Qg4 O-O 8. f5 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Albin (strong)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Defender"]
[Black "Gambiteer"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 { Defender to move. Engine best dxe5 (+79 cp). Practical pick at 1900: dxe5. } 3. dxe5 { eval22 +79 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 57.8%, prepared 1900: 74.6 +-0.4%, unprepared 1900: 54.8 +-0.6%. Most common human continuation: d4 (95%), then Nf3 Nc6 a3 g6 Bg5 Qd7 (+75 cp) } ( 3. e3 { eval22 -6 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 9.6%, prepared 1900: 71.2 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 52.1 +-0.5% } 3... exd4 4. exd4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. Bd3 O-O ) ( 3. Nc3 { eval22 +22 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 13.5%, prepared 1900: 76.8 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 51.6 +-0.7% } 3... dxc4 4. e3 exd4 5. exd4 Nf6 6. Bxc4 Bd6 7. Nf3 O-O ) ( 3. cxd5 { eval22 +14 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 15.6%, prepared 1900: 62.9 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 51.1 +-0.7% } 3... Qxd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. dxe5 Qxd1+ 7. Kxd1 Nge7 ) 3... Ne7 4. Nc3 d4 5. Nb5 Nec6 6. Nf3 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bc5 8. e3 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Wing Gambit (strong)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gambiteer"]
[Black "Defender"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 c5 2. b4 { Defender to move. Engine best cxb4 (+31 cp). Practical pick at 1900: e5. } 2... e5 { eval22 +2 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 2.7%, prepared 1900: 80.0 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 52.2 +-0.6%. Most common human continuation: bxc5 (56%), then Bxc5 Nc3 Nf6 Bc4 Nc6 Nf3 (+22 cp) } ( 2... cxb4 { eval22 +31 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 62.6%, prepared 1900: 65.4 +-0.4%, unprepared 1900: 52.7 +-0.5% } 3. Nf3 d5 4. exd5 Nf6 5. c4 bxc3 6. Nxc3 Nxd5 7. Bb2 ) ( 2... e6 { eval22 -54 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 14.0%, prepared 1900: 62.3 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 46.6 +-0.6% } ) ( 2... d5 { eval22 +24 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 0.9%, prepared 1900: 79.9 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 51.2 +-0.7% } 3. exd5 cxb4 4. Bb5+ Bd7 5. Be2 Nf6 6. c4 bxc3 7. Nxc3 ) 3. b5 Nf6 4. Nc3 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Nxd5 Qxd5 7. Ne2 Qe4 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Danish (strong)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gambiteer"]
[Black "Defender"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 { Defender to move. Engine best dxc3 (+27 cp). Practical pick at 1900: Qe7. } 3... Qe7 { eval22 +24 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 0.4%, prepared 1900: 80.3 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 53.1 +-0.9%. Most common human continuation: Bd3 (38%), then d5 cxd4 dxe4 Bc2 Qh4 Nc3 (+38 cp) } ( 3... dxc3 { eval22 +27 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 60.4%, prepared 1900: 72.5 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 45.9 +-0.9% } 4. Nxc3 Bc5 5. Bc4 d6 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. e5 dxe5 8. Qxd8+ ) ( 3... d3 { eval22 -67 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 8.4%, prepared 1900: 52.9 +-0.4%, unprepared 1900: 42.4 +-0.5% } ) ( 3... d5 { eval22 +4 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 15.9%, prepared 1900: 73.9 +-0.6%, unprepared 1900: 49.7 +-0.7% } 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. cxd4 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Be2 Bxf3 8. Bxf3 ) 4. cxd4 Qxe4+ 5. Be3 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 Ne7 7. Ne2 Nd5 8. Bd2 Bxc3 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Englund, 3.Nf3 Qe7 (strong)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Defender"]
[Black "Gambiteer"]
[Result "*"]

1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 Nc6 3. Nf3 Qe7 { Defender to move. Engine best Bf4 (+179 cp). Practical pick at 1900: Bg5. } 4. Bg5 { eval22 +164 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 9.5%, prepared 1900: 88.0 +-0.3%, unprepared 1900: 43.7 +-1.1%. Most common human continuation: Qb4+ (87%), then Nc3 Qa5 Qd5 Bb4 Qxa5 Bxa5 (+230 cp) } ( 4. Bf4 { eval22 +179 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 36.5%, prepared 1900: 87.5 +-0.4%, unprepared 1900: 36.2 +-1.2% } 4... d6 5. exd6 Qf6 6. Qc1 Bxd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8. Qd2 Qxd2+ ) ( 4. Qd5 { eval22 +76 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 15.2%, prepared 1900: 87.9 +-0.3%, unprepared 1900: 56.9 +-1.0% } ) ( 4. Nc3 { eval22 +164 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 14.7%, prepared 1900: 86.2 +-0.3%, unprepared 1900: 55.0 +-0.9% } 4... Nxe5 5. Bf4 d6 6. Qd4 Nxf3+ 7. gxf3 Qf6 8. Qd2 Be6 ) 4... Qe6 5. Bf4 d6 6. exd6 Qf6 7. Qc1 Bxd6 8. Bxd6 Qxd6 9. Qd2 *

[Event "Anti-gambit: Latvian (strong)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Defender"]
[Black "Gambiteer"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 { Defender to move. Engine best Nxe5 (+152 cp). Practical pick at 1900: exf5. } 3. exf5 { eval22 +144 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 26.5%, prepared 1900: 91.3 +-0.3%, unprepared 1900: 53.8 +-0.8%. Most common human continuation: e4 (71%), then Nd4 Qf6 Nb5 Qe5 Qe2 Kd8 (+140 cp) } ( 3. Nxe5 { eval22 +152 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 37.8%, prepared 1900: 89.5 +-0.3%, unprepared 1900: 54.2 +-0.9% } 3... Qf6 4. d4 d6 5. Nc4 fxe4 6. Nc3 Qg6 7. f3 Nc6 ) ( 3. d3 { eval22 +4 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 11.6%, prepared 1900: 76.8 +-0.5%, unprepared 1900: 48.3 +-0.6% } ) ( 3. Nc3 { eval22 +130 cp, Maia 1900 plays it 8.8%, prepared 1900: 85.9 +-0.3%, unprepared 1900: 51.3 +-0.8% } 3... Nf6 4. exf5 Nc6 5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Bb4 7. Nxc6 bxc6 ) 3... e4 4. Nd4 Qf6 5. c3 Nc6 6. d3 Nxd4 7. cxd4 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 *

Fourteen gambits faced at 2200 and over. Download the PGN.

Method

The data is the September 2026 Lichess database dump, 89,616,462 rated games, indexed on my own machine. 5,603,576 of them have both players at 2200 or above and 7,351,271 have both at 1100 or below. For all-time counts and the masters database I used the Lichess opening explorer.

From the most played positions I looked at every legal move that almost nobody plays, and kept the ones that give up material for at least six plies of best play. Stockfish 19 screened them at depth 12 and confirmed at depth 24 and deeper, and I dropped anything worse than about -0.7 against the best defence. Leela (lc0 0.32.1 with the BT4 net, on a GPU) gave a second opinion. Maia 1100, 1500 and 1900 stood in for human replies: each reply was scored by Stockfish and the line was ranked by the expected evaluation under those replies. Finalists were then simulated, twelve plies followed by engine adjudication.

The limits are real. An engine score is a verdict about perfect play, not a result, and I did not play a single one of these over the board. Maia is a model of people, and a rough one. Twelve plies of simulation and an engine to adjudicate favour the side with the plan. The rarity counts only say what the databases hold, and "I found nothing written about it" is not a proof that nobody has played it. The positions are small samples, so treat a difference of a point or two as noise unless the standard error says otherwise.

Files

Everything on this page is also on Lichess as four public studies with one chapter per game, named by rating band, opening and move so the chapter list works as a cheat sheet: the four gambits, the most played blunders by rating, the wrong most played moves and the defences.

Each board below also has an analysis board entry in its menu, and any PGN here opens on Lichess through Tools, Import game.

S1_alekhine_e6.pgn, the Alekhine 5.e6 gambit
C1_centre_f6_Ba6.pgn, the Centre Game 4.Ba6 trap
B1_falkbeer_Nh6.pgn, the Falkbeer 3...Nh6 gambit for Black
B6_caro_Qf3_Qc7.pgn, the Caro-Kann 4...Qc7 trap for Black
blunders_club.pgn, blunders_strong.pgn and topmove_strong.pgn, the most played mistakes
defences_club.pgn and defences_strong.pgn, the practical anti-gambit lines
The repository with the search code, the specs and all results