Blumenfeld Countergambit

A wing pawn for the centre

Gambits
Sharp play

With …b5 Black gives up a wing pawn to build a strong centre of pawns on c5, d5 and e6. The bishops go to b7 and d6 and a rook comes to the f-file, so the play turns towards White's king. It is a real gambit, not a joke: White needs to know what to do, or Black's centre soon becomes dangerous.

Interactive Opening Board

6…d5

♚

Black

♔

White

6…d5

Speed:

Moves

(12 plies • 6 moves)

6…d5Tabiya

1–6moves
#WhiteBlack
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Defining move

4…b5 — a wing pawn for a central one

The move that makes it a gambit

Black offers the b-pawn. If White takes with 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5, Black plays …d5 and gets a big pawn centre. The idea is a cousin of the Benko Gambit, but the compensation lies in the centre and on the kingside, not on the queenside.

Tabiya

White has the extra pawn, Black has the centre

After 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 d5 White is a pawn up. Black has pawns on c5, d5 and e6, a half-open f-file and bishops aimed at the kingside. White wants to keep the pawn and strike with e4 at the right time, while Black wants to develop and attack. White can also decline with 5.Bg5, the most common reply.

White’s plan

Keep the extra queenside pawn and make use of it.
Strike at Black's centre with e4 at the right moment.
Or decline with Bg5: pin the knight and delay the decision.

Black’s plan

Build the centre: …d5 with pawns on c5 and e6.
Bring the bishops to b7 and d6, and castle.
Use the half-open f-file and go for the king.

History

It is named after the Russian master Benjamin Blumenfeld. It became well known when Alexander Alekhine took it up.

Notable players

Alexander Alekhine

Legends who played it

B
Benjamin Blumenfeld
as Black · Named after the player

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