Rat Defense: English Rat

1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5

ECO A41

The Rat Defense: English Rat is a chess opening reached after 1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5, catalogued under code A41 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move e5 is chosen by Black on move 2.

2 named continuations branch from this position, including the Lisbon Gambit and the Pounds Gambit.

Named variations

• Rat Defense: English Rat, Lisbon Gambit — ECO A41
• Rat Defense: English Rat, Pounds Gambit — ECO A41

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Modern Defense course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.