Is Englund Gambit Valid?

In my opinion, it kinda sucks unless you play the Charlick Hartlaub, which is the only variation that (to me) is actually decent. The traps in the 3. ... Qe7 lines are easily blocked (but can trip many people up), and soller just isnt good (3. e4, and if ... fxe4??, we murder them with 4. Qh5+!)

Meanwhile, I have yet to find a refutation to the Charlick-Hartlaub. It do be kinda cheeky, but I do think its bad.

also im 850 so what the hecc do I know

This is Charlick-Hartlaub btw

It is just bad. A pawn is a pawn. It is even a central pawn.

Englund Gambit is bad cause they don't have to defend the pawn they lost

As a pawn hater who DARED imagine just such a gambit, sacking both center pawns for mobility and success semi-open files, the hartlaub charlick with its fast basic development, different 000 plans, super mobility got me all excited learning it's anti-stonewall tactical ways that finally let me turn closed plans wide open without a despised fianchetto, like benko and old benoni.

Main line englund is UGLY. It wasn't even on my radar as playable until I saw GM Igor's hartlaub charlick video that includes can opener attacks, purposeful pawn storms, and bishop pair lined up on 00 idea that led to a quick crushing scandinavian win where I went out of book with a Bd6 and the other bishop involved. It's a bad idea I gave up on trying to own, but seeing my scandinavian dream plans replacing slav-walling is more than good enough.

No amateur is playing the proper main line.

There's a lot of confusion and homework in the sidelines and I already despise just like the despicable 2.e5 push in the open game, 2.d5 f5 I've got to play for ...Nf6

For a player like me who hates pawns even more than fianchettos and passive, even defensive necessity, hartlaub charlick is kung fu after the stonewall straight jacket.

If you are terrified of risky games and the UNLIKELY potential someone that's done their homework knows the line you can't get an advantage in and has studied it well might make you have a miserable game, but im having those already in the sidelines, but also glorious high pressure counter punching and re-targeting that's liberating and best suited for my fried liver loving open them files style of play

Hartlaub Charlick Gambit

I tell you what, play the Budapest but not the englund. It's hopeless in the Qe7 lines if white knows till 12 moves.

IF

...sometimes

oh well

There's a thread on it I started that has at least one rabid hater despite my crushing stats and just loving making pawn pushing weenies play my rip it open and fight style opponents are playing 1.d4 to avoid. Their smug sense of positional superiority doesn't translate in the main lines

GM Aman Hambleton has had quite a bit of success with this queen sac line. I wouldn't play it with a 10 foot pole...... but then Aman's a GM and I'm just a hack.

A well coordinated pair of minor pieces can annoy a queen, and any pawn pusher has got to like black's better pawns. Black's piece majority are good to try and corner the queen. It's not optimal, but it's what player's comfy with. The pieces and pawns are resources.

That's not hartlaub charlick either

It’s valid if it works. Unfortunately, you can’t know this before it happens…

it works if opponents accept the gambit and play into it which is more common than not, but those 2 extra pawns are resources white can find a few ways to exploit, and take you out of your plans like that last opponent did queenside castling. that just messed with everything in my world. but no matter what you play, opponents will find ways to ruin your plans

going to have to start doing homework as my stats are down to 43:53 (10% winning) overall with a lot of sideline losing

I think to be precise, the Englund only refers to the line where black plays 3...Qe7, and not the other gambit lines that can come from 1...e5, which have different names.

There are a few good players who play the Englund alot online, but it's not my cup of tea.

White can avoid a lot of the crazy tactics in the 3.Bf4 line with 3.Nc3. The line shown below is the commonest continuation. Black's problem is he has to try and stop the knight fork on c7. After 6...Qd8, white has a slight advantage. In fast time controls, I think this is a good choice for white If you don't want to get tripped up in the complications that can arise in the Bf4 line.

If you play the Englund Gambit, you can get the pawn back, but you'll lose tons of development.

2...d6 is soooo much better!

these are practical chances 1600-2000

my results are better, but opponents seem to be upping their games lately

not me, not ever. I DESPISE fianchettos. otherwise i'd play better scoring benko. THAT's why it's 110% hartlaub charlick for me. it's as my way as it gets

I agree. I think the line you showed is considered the most solid for white. But even the 4.Bf4 line is better for white if you know all the tricks. And apparently, after 4...Qb4+ white can simply play 5.Nc3 and sac off the bishop!