Queen's Pawn Opening: BDG Lemberger Simple Variation
Queen’s Pawn Opening
Definition
The Queen’s Pawn Opening is any chess opening that begins with the move 1.d4 by White. Because the pawn in front of the queen advances two squares, the name “Queen’s Pawn” is used in analogy to 1.e4 (“King’s Pawn”). The term is broad: it can refer to a single move (1.d4), to a family of openings beginning 1.d4 d5 (Closed Games), or to 1.d4 followed by 1…Nf6 and various Indian Defences. In modern literature ECO codes A40–D69 all start from this single move.
How it is used in chess
1.d4 stakes an immediate claim to the centre and, unlike 1.e4, keeps the pawn protected by the queen. Typical plans include:
- Building a classical pawn centre with c2-c4 (Queen’s Gambit structures).
- Fianchetto set-ups (e.g., Catalan, King’s Indian Attack vs. the French).
- Rapid development and piece activity while postponing pawn commitments (London, Colle).
Strategic & historical significance
1.d4 gained popularity in the late 19th century when players such as Wilhelm Steinitz and Emanuel Lasker exploited its solid nature to out-maneuvre romantic 1.e4-players. In the 20th century, world champions from Capablanca to Karpov made 1.d4 a main weapon, appreciating its flexibility and the reduced exposure to forcing tactical lines.
Examples
Two famous illustrative games:
- Capablanca – Tartakower, New York 1924: a model Queen’s Gambit strategy ending in a positional squeeze.
- Kasparov – Karpov, World Ch. 1985 (Game 16): 1.d4 led to a Catalan; Kasparov sacrificed a pawn for long-term pressure and eventually won the title-deciding game.
Interesting facts
- Because the c-pawn is not blocked as after 1.e4 e5, 1.d4 often produces asymmetrical pawn structures, giving rise to the famous “isolated queen’s-pawn” middlegame typology.
- Statistically, 1.d4 scores fractionally higher than 1.e4 in elite databases, though the difference is negligible.
Blackmar–Diemer Gambit (BDG)
Definition
The Blackmar–Diemer Gambit is an aggressive line that arises from the Queen’s Pawn Opening:
Main moves: 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3.
White sacrifices the d-pawn to accelerate development and aim for a rapid attack, frequently reinforced by 4.f3 in accepted lines.
How it is used
BDG players strive for:
- Quick piece activity (both bishops usually point at the kingside).
- Open lines for heavy pieces via f- and e-files.
- Typical sacrifices on f7, h7, or along the e-file.
Black hopes to neutralise the initiative and convert the extra pawn in a simplified endgame.
Strategic & historical notes
The opening is named after American composer Armand Blackmar (who published the idea 1882) and German master Emil Josef Diemer, its tireless 20th-century evangelist. While rarely seen in elite classical play, it enjoys cult status in club, rapid and correspondence chess where surprise value and tactical complexity can pay rich dividends.
Illustrative miniature
In Diemer – Schwarzkopf, 1959, White’s energetic piece play broke through on the kingside, demonstrating the gambit’s attacking spirit.
Interesting facts
- Diemer reportedly mailed thousands of letters to promote “his” gambit, signing them Mit schachlichem Gruß, Emil Josef Diemer.
- BDG enthusiasts sometimes greet each other with “From Gambit, Good Game!” – a pun on the initials BDG.
Lemberger Counter-Gambit
Definition
The Lemberger Counter-Gambit is Black’s sharp reply to the BDG:
Main line: 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 e5!?
Instead of trying to cling to the extra pawn, Black immediately returns it, aiming to disrupt White’s co-ordination and liquidate into an equal or better structure.
How it is used
Typical continuations:
- 4.dxe5 Qxd1+ 5.Nxd1 (or 5.Kxd1) – the queens come off and Black counts on the healthy pawn structure.
- 4.Nxe4 Qxd4 5.Qxd4 exd4 – Black grabs space and gains the bishop pair.
The counter-gambit denies White many of the usual attacking set-ups that require queens and open f-files.
Strategic significance
By simplifying early, the Lemberger caters to players who want to avoid BDG’s tactical mine-fields while still fighting for the initiative. It is considered objectively sound and is recommended in several modern repertoire books as an antidote to the gambit.
Historical note
The line is attributed to Austrian master Josef Lemberger, who analysed it in the 1930s and used it in correspondence tournaments. Although never mainstream, it occasionally surfaces in over-the-board events, especially rapid time-controls.
Example game
White (Diemer) eventually won versus Mittenzwei, Leipzig 1940, but only after a long endgame – illustrating that Black can reach a solid, queenless middlegame.
Interesting facts
- Some BDG aficionados call 3…e5 the “equaliser” and switch to sidelines like 3.Nge2 to keep queens on.
- The ECO classification is D00 – a catch-all code that also houses London, Colle and other off-beat 1.d4 systems.
Simple Variation (of the Lemberger Counter-Gambit)
Definition
The Simple Variation is the most straightforward line of the Lemberger Counter-Gambit:
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 e5 4.dxe5 Qxd1+ 5.Nxd1 (or 5.Kxd1).
With the queens exchanged on move 5, the position simplifies and the material balance is restored.
Why it is called “Simple”
Because the queens come off, pawn structure is clarified and both sides enter an early endgame devoid of immediate tactics, theoreticians dubbed it the “Simple” (or “Simplified”) Variation.
Typical plans
- White: Rapid kingside development (Bc4, Ne2-g3, Ke1–e2 if needed) and pressure on the e- and f-files.
- Black: Harmonious piece placement (Nc6, Bf5, O-O-O) and play against White’s isolated or doubled pawns that may arise.
Evaluation & popularity
Modern engines assess the resulting position as roughly equal (±0.10 – 0.25). In practical play it appeals to:
- BDG opponents who want risk-free equality.
- Endgame aficionados comfortable in queenless positions.
Example fragment
The minor-piece skirmish shows typical themes: activity vs. pawn grabs.
Interesting tidbits
- Because the BDG thrives on attacking chances with queens on the board, some gambit devotees jokingly refer to this line as “BDG Lite – now with 50 % fewer calories.”
- Grandmaster Ben Finegold once quipped on stream that the best way to refute any gambit is to “trade everything,” capturing the spirit of the Simple Variation.