Albin Countergambit

Strategic Summary & Main Idea

The Albin Countergambit is the most aggressive answer to the Queen's Gambit: 2...e5 gives a pawn to drive another into d4 and hinder White's development. The measurement is harsh on Black. After 2...e5, the position measures +0.79, and after 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6, +0.74. Against 5.g3, only one move holds: 5...Nge7, at +0.67. The three most natural developing moves — 5...Be6, 5...Bg4 and 5...Bf5 — measure between +1.42 and +1.49. What keeps the Albin alive is the Lasker Trap, 4.e3? Bb4+ 5.Bd2 dxe3, where 6.Bxb4?? ends with a pawn promoting to a knight.

The pawn structure this opening produces

The Albin creates an asymmetrical structure on move three. White has an extra pawn on e5, isolated on the e-file, and a c4 pawn without the support of d4. Black has an advanced pawn on d4 that works as a wedge: it takes c3 away from the queen's knight, which has to go to d2, and makes e3 a bad move, because ...dxe3 opens the b4 bishop's diagonal against the king. The fight revolves around the two advanced pawns. Black wants to regain e5 with a knight — ...Nge7, ...Ng6 and ...Ngxe5 is the route — without losing d4. White wants to keep the extra pawn, fianchetto the bishop on g2, where it eyes b7 and Black's queenside, and open the queenside with a3 and b4. When Black castles queenside, as in many older games, Black's king sits in front of the g2 bishop and White's a- and b-pawns, and the measurement rises to +1.67.

Main Variations of the Albin Countergambit

Evaluations measured by us with Stockfish 19, depth 22, on 15/09/2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Albin Countergambit any good?

As a surprise weapon, yes; as a repertoire, the measurement does not help. After 2...e5, the position measures +0.79, and with Black's best play the main line settles at +0.68. White keeps the extra pawn with no hurry to return it, and only 5...Nge7 holds the evaluation — the natural developing moves of the c8 bishop lead to +1.4.

What is the Lasker Trap?

It is the sequence 3.dxe5 d4 4.e3? Bb4+ 5.Bd2 dxe3 6.Bxb4?? exf2+ 7.Ke2 fxg1=N+!. Black's pawn leaves d5, passes through d4, e3 and f2 and promotes on g1 to a knight, checking the king on e2; promoting to a queen would allow 8.Rxg1. The final position measures −6.69. The trap only exists because White played 4.e3, the move the d4 wedge punishes.

Why does the d4 pawn matter so much?

Because it pays for the pawn Black gave. On d4, it takes c3 away from the queen's knight and turns e3 into a bad move that opens the way for ...Bb4+ and ...dxe3. When White tries to play as if the wedge were not there, with 4.e3 or 4.e4, the +0.67 edge disappears: −0.15 and −0.07.

Common Mistakes & Where Most Amateurs Go Wrong

• 01 Taking the bishop with 6.Bxb4?? in the Lasker Trap. After 4.e3? Bb4+ 5.Bd2 dxe3, the capture opens the sequence 6...exf2+ 7.Ke2 fxg1=N+!, with the pawn promoting to a knight with check, and the position measures −6.69. The recapture 6.fxe3 keeps the material, but already measures −0.24. The line: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.e3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 dxe3 6.Bxb4 exf2+ 7.Ke2 fxg1=N+ −6.69
• 02 Developing the bishop with 5...Be6? against 5.g3. The move looks natural, but it does nothing to regain the e5 pawn, and the g2 bishop takes the long diagonal: +1.48, against +0.67 for 5...Nge7. The line: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.g3 Be6 +1.48
• 03 Pushing the knight with 4.Ne5? after 3.Nf3 e4. Against 4...f6, the knight has nowhere to go: c6, d7, f7, g6, g4, f3 and d3 are all covered by a Black piece or pawn, and c4 holds a White pawn. The position measures −3.01. The line: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.Nf3 e4 4.Ne5 −3.01