Ponderchess / Openings
Play the guided film, or select a scene to pause and study its position.
Opening
The Elephant Gambit in 3D
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5. Black strikes in the centre at once, offering a pawn for quick development. It is enterprising but regarded as risky.
Rebuild the sequence yourself. The board responds to each move, and hints are available.
Click or drag to move · Arrow keys + Enter to play
Your turn · white to play
Select a piece, then its destination. Switch to 2D for a clear overhead view or rotate the 3D board to explore the position.
Elephant Gambit: Wasp Variation, move by move: e4 e5 Nf3 d5 Nxe5 dxe4 Bc4 Qg5
The white pieces
Take the pawn and develop calmly with d4 or d3, Nc3 and the bishops. Return the pawn if that gives you a clear lead in development.
The black pieces
Play for activity: develop with ...Nf6, ...Bd6 and ...O-O, and use the open lines before White consolidates. Winning back the d5 pawn is usually part of the plan.
Look a little deeper · 01
After 3.exd5, Black can play 3...e4, the Paulsen Countergambit, hitting the knight, or 3...Bd6, the Maróczy Gambit, which defends e5 and prepares quick development.
Look a little deeper · 02
3.Nxe5 is a strong alternative. After 3...dxe4 4.Bc4, f7 is under fire, and the Wasp Variation, 4...Qg5, counterattacks the knight and g2.
Look a little deeper · 03
If White keeps the extra pawn on d5 safely, Black has little to show for it, so the gambiteer depends on quick piece activity.
Elephant Gambit: Wasp Variation, move by move: e4 e5 Nf3 d5 Nxe5 dxe4 Bc4 Qg5
Keyboard: Space pauses, the arrow keys step. Gold arrows are White's moves, violet are Black's, red rays are threats, green shows support, blue shows plans.
