ECO E10 · Blumenfeld Countergambit

Blumenfeld Countergambit: Duz-Khotimirsky Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 b5 5. Bg5

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

5… exd5+0.44

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Blumenfeld Countergambit: Duz-Khotimirsky Variation (E10), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 b5 5. Bg5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… exd5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.44).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.445… exd5 6. cxd5 h6 7. Bh4 g5 8. Bg3 Bg7 9. e3 O-O 10. Bd6
  2. +0.475… b4 6. a3 h6 7. Bh4 a5 8. e4 g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. e5
  3. +0.525… Qa5+ 6. Nc3 Ne4 7. cxb5 a6 8. Bd2 Nxd2 9. Nxd2 axb5 10. a4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Blumenfeld Countergambit: Duz-Khotimirsky Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 b5 5. Bg5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… exd5 for Black, continuing 6. cxd5 h6 7. Bh4 g5 8. Bg3 Bg7 9. e3 O-O 10. Bd6. White is slightly better (+0.44). The next best moves are 5… b4 (+0.47) and 5… Qa5+ (+0.52).
Is the Blumenfeld Countergambit: Duz-Khotimirsky Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.44: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Blumenfeld Countergambit: Duz-Khotimirsky Variation?
E10. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; E is the volume for indian defenses.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).