Dresden Opening: The Goblin
ECO C44 · Dresden Opening
The Dresden Opening: The Goblin (C44) is a chess opening in the Dresden Opening family, played by White. It arises after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nxe5.
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nxe5
About this opening
The Goblin of the Dresden Opening (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nxe5) is a provocative piece sacrifice: White grabs the e5 pawn and gives up the knight, hoping that after 4...Nxe5 5.d4 the broad c4-d4-e4 pawn centre offers play for the material. Objectively it is unsound — Black stays better by returning the piece at the right moment or simply keeping it — so it is a trap and blitz weapon rather than a serious line.