Van Geet Opening: Düsseldorf Gambit

Van Geet Opening: Düsseldorf Gambit is a chess opening with the ECO code A00, part of the Van Geet Opening family. It goes 1. Nc3 c5 2. b4. White opens with 1. Nc3 (the Dunst/Van Geet knight move) and Black answers 1... c5. After 3 moves it is Black to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

• 1. Nc3 – White plays the knight to c3
• 1... c5 – Black plays the pawn to c5
• 2. b4 – White plays the pawn to b4

About the Van Geet Opening

White starts with 1.Nc3, an offbeat but sound move. It develops a knight and can later turn into a Vienna, a Pirc-like or a d4 game.

• The knight controls e4 and d5; White often follows with e4.
• It blocks the c-pawn, so plans with c4 are harder.
• Black can take the centre with ...d5 and ...e5; White plays for surprise.

Related openings

• It extends: Van Geet Opening (1. Nc3)
• Related line: Van Geet Opening: Dunst-Perrenet Gambit (1. Nc3 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. d3)
• Related line: Van Geet Opening: Gladbacher Gambit (1. Nc3 e5 2. b3 d5 3. e4 dxe4 4. d3)
• Related line: Van Geet Opening: Dougherty Gambit (1. Nc3 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. f3)
• Related line: Van Geet Opening: Hector Gambit (1. Nc3 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Bc4)
• Related line: Van Geet Opening: Damhaug Gambit (1. Nc3 d5 2. f4 e5)
• Related line: Van Geet Opening: Hergert Gambit (1. Nc3 d6 2. f4 e5 3. fxe5 Nc6)

Browse every named opening · Opening courses