C40 · King's Pawn Game

King's Pawn Game: Damiano Defense, Damiano Gambit, Chigorin Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6 3. Nxe5 Qe7 4. Nf3 d5
♜♞♝♚♝♞♜♟♟♟♛♟♟♟♟♟♞♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♞♝♛♚♝♜
The position after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6 3. Nxe5 Qe7 4. Nf3 d5, White to move.

In the King's Pawn Game: Damiano Defense, Damiano Gambit, Chigorin Gambit, aim to understand the plans and pawn structures, not just memorize the first moves.

See how you play it

The King's Pawn Game: Damiano Defense, Damiano Gambit, Chigorin Gambit is a chess opening classified under ECO code C40. It is reached after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6 3. Nxe5 Qe7 4. Nf3 d5: 8 moves in, with White to play.

It belongs to the King's Pawn Game family — one of many ways the line can branch. Understanding the parent system’s plans is the fastest way to play this variation well.

Club players rarely lose the King's Pawn Game: Damiano Defense, Damiano Gambit, Chigorin Gambit in the opening itself. They lose it a few moves later, when the plan behind the moves runs out: that is what reading your own games in this line shows you.

Play the King's Pawn Game: Damiano Defense, Damiano Gambit, Chigorin Gambit? See where you go wrong.
Deepline reviews your real games, finds the exact moves that cost you, and trains the fixes.
Analyze my games free →

Related openings

King's Pawn GameKing's Pawn Game: Maroczy DefenseKing's Pawn GameKing's Pawn Game: Alapin OpeningKing's Pawn Game: Bavarian GambitKing's Pawn Game: Beyer GambitKing's Pawn Game: Clam Variation, King's Gambit ReversedKing's Pawn Game: Clam Variation, Radisch GambitKing's Pawn Game: King's Head OpeningKing's Pawn Game: Leonardis Variation

See how you play this opening