Watch
Step 1 · The offer
White to move
rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/8/3p4/3P4/8/PPP1PPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 22.c4. The c-pawn attacks d5 and offers itself. If Black takes, the pawn on d5 is gone from the centre and White can play e4 and d4 together. If Black holds d5 with …e6 or …c6, the tension stays and White keeps the option of cxd5. Either way c4 is pressure, not a gift.
The line: 2.c2-c4
Decide
Step 2 · Three replies
Black to move
rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/8/3p4/2PP4/8/PP2PPPP/RNBQKBNR b KQkq - 0 2Black to move. Three normal replies, one of which gives up the centre.
Which reply gives up the centre pawn on d5?
Quick check
- Take: …dxc4
- Hold: …e6
- Hold: …c6
Show the correct answer
Correct answer: Take: …dxc4 — …dxc4 takes the pawn, and d5 is empty. White gets e4 and d4 side by side, and Bxc4 collects the pawn back within a few moves. Playable, but it hands over the centre.
- Hold: …e6 — …e6 keeps the pawn on d5 and supports it: the Orthodox way. The c8 bishop is shut in for now; that is the price.
- Hold: …c6 — …c6 keeps d5 too, the Slav, and leaves the c8 bishop free to come out. Nothing is given up.
Your move
Step 3 · Take it back calmly
White to move
rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/8/8/2pP4/8/PP2PPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 3Black took. Do not chase the pawn with the queen. Prepare to take it back with a piece that wants to develop anyway.
Hint: Take the pawn back with a developing move, not with the queen.
The move: 3.e2-e3
3.e3. The bishop takes on c4 next, developing as it recaptures. Black cannot hold the pawn without weakening the queenside.
Also good here
3.Ng1-f3— Also a main line: Nf3 first, e3 next; the bishop still takes on c4.3.e2-e4— Also good: the big centre at once. e4 and d4 stand together, and Bxc4 follows.
Why not another move?
3.Qd1-a4— Check, but …Nd7 or …c6 blocks, and the queen has to collect c4 alone while nothing else develops. Playable, but slower.3.Nb1-c3— Playable, but …a6 and …b5 hold the pawn for a while: the knight does nothing about c4. e3 first.3.b2-b3— …e5! hits d4, and …Bb4+ follows: Black keeps the extra pawn and gets ahead in development. What follows:3…e7-e5
Watch
Step 4 · Black clings on
Black to move
rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/8/8/2pP4/4P3/PP3PPP/RNBQKBNR b KQkq - 0 3Black tries to keep the pawn: …b5 protects c4. It looks solid. It is not.
The reply: 3…b7-b5
Your move
Step 5 · Break the chain
White to move
rnbqkbnr/p1p1pppp/8/1p6/2pP4/4P3/PP3PPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 4The b5 pawn holds c4. Attack the pawn that holds it.
Hint: The pawn on b5 holds c4. Attack b5.
The move: 4.a2-a4
4.a4! The chain b5–c4 is attacked at its base. After …c6 axb5 cxb5 the pawns are loose, and after …bxa4 Qxa4+ the queen collects c4 with check.
Why not another move?
4.Ng1-f3— Playable, but it gives Black a move for …c6 and …a6, cementing the chain. a4 now.4.b2-b3— …cxb3 and after Bxb5+ c6 the pawns are traded off; White regains the material but nothing more. a4 wins outright.4.Qd1-f3— …c6 and the queen bites on granite; the chain stands.4.Nb1-c3— …a6 and the chain b5–c4 holds with a6 behind it; the knight was the wrong attacker.
Your move
Step 6 · The double attack
White to move
rnbqkbnr/p3pppp/8/1p6/2pP4/4P3/1P3PPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 6Black held on with …c6 and recaptured. The pawn on b5 is loose, and it is the only guard c4 has. The long diagonal to a8 is open. Find the double attack.
Hint: The a8 rook sits at the end of an open diagonal. Which piece can reach it?
The move: 6.Qd1-f3
6.Qf3! The queen attacks the rook on a8 down the open diagonal. …Nc6 blocks but Qxc6+ takes the knight; …a6 or …Qb6 lets Qxa8. The chain that held c4 has cost Black a piece.
Why not another move?
6.Nb1-c3— A fine developing move, but it misses the moment: …Qb6 guards everything and the pawns get sorted out.6.b2-b3— Regains a pawn: …Bb7 bxc4 bxc4 Bxc4. Good, but Qf3 wins a piece.
On your own
Step 7 · On your own
White to move
rnbqkb1r/ppp1pppp/8/3n4/3P4/8/PP2PPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 4Black met c4 with …Nf6 and you exchanged on d5. The knight has recaptured and sits in the centre with nothing behind it. Choose your move.
Hint: The knight on d5 has no pawn behind it. Kick it, or prepare to.
The move: 4.e2-e4
4.e4. The knight is kicked at once, and after …Nf6 or …Nb6 White has two centre pawns and a free hand. c4 was never about the pawn; it was about d5.
Also good here
4.Ng1-f3— Also strong, the quiet way: Nf3 first, e4 next, with Qb3 ideas against the knight.
Why not another move?
4.Nb1-c3— Playable, but …Nxc3 bxc3 trades off your knight and mends nothing: e4 keeps the knight running.4.e2-e3— Solid but passive: the d5 knight is not challenged and Black plays …c5 comfortably. Playable, not the point.4.Qd1-b3— Playable, but …e6 guards the knight and the queen is doing a pawn’s job. e4 first.
A quick refresher
In the app this position is not part of the lesson itself: it comes back later, as a review, to check that the idea stuck.
Your move
Your turn as Black
Black to move
rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/8/3p4/2PP4/8/PP2PPPP/RNBQKBNR b KQkq - 0 2Now you are Black. White has just played the gambit. Keep the centre, or take with a plan.
Hint: Keep the pawn on d5 supported, or take with a plan. Do not leave it hanging.
The move: 2…e7-e6 or 2…c7-c6
Right: the pawn on d5 stays. …e6 (the Orthodox) or …c6 (the Slav) keep the centre and develop next. White’s c4 pawn is left doing its pressure job but winning nothing.
Also good here
2…d5xc4— Also fine: the Accepted. You give up d5 but you know the pawn comes back; develop fast and hit the centre with …c5.
Why not another move?
2…Ng8-f6— Playable, but cxd5 Nxd5 e4 kicks the knight while White builds the big centre: you gave up d5 for nothing. What follows:3.c4xd5 Nf6xd5 4.e2-e42…e7-e5— …e5? dxe5 d4 and Black has gambited a pawn back, the Albin: sharp and objectively worse.2…c7-c5— …c5? cxd5 Qxd5 Nf3 and the queen is exposed in the middle of the board.2…Nb8-c6— …Nc6 blocks your own c-pawn; the Chigorin is playable but leaves d5 short of support.
What you learned
c4 is pressure, not a gift. If Black takes, develop and take it back; if Black tries to hold it with …b5, a4 breaks the chain.
In your next game
After 1.d4 d5 2.c4, if Black takes, play e3 or e4 and recapture with the bishop. If …b5 tries to keep the pawn, play a4 at once. If Black exchanges on d5 with a knight, play e4.