ECO A00 · Barnes Opening

Barnes Opening: Gedult Gambit

1. f3 f5 2. e4 fxe4 3. Nc3

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

3… d5+0.19

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Barnes Opening: Gedult Gambit (A00), reached after 1. f3 f5 2. e4 fxe4 3. Nc3, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… d5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.19).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.193… d5 4. fxe4 dxe4 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. Nxe4 Nf6 7. Qe2 Nxe4 8. Bxd7+
  2. +0.383… e5 4. fxe4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bc5 6. Bc4 Nc6 7. d3 Na5 8. Nxe5
  3. +0.403… Nf6 4. fxe4 e5 5. Nf3 Bc5 6. Bc4 Nc6 7. d3 Na5 8. Nxe5

Other move orders

  • 1. f3 d5 2. e4 g6 3. d4 dxe4 4. c3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Barnes Opening: Gedult Gambit?
After 1. f3 f5 2. e4 fxe4 3. Nc3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… d5 for Black, continuing 4. fxe4 dxe4 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. Nxe4 Nf6 7. Qe2 Nxe4 8. Bxd7+. The position is roughly equal (+0.19). The next best moves are 3… e5 (+0.38) and 3… Nf6 (+0.40).
Is the Barnes Opening: Gedult Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.19: the position is roughly equal. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Barnes Opening: Gedult Gambit?
A00. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; A is the volume for flank openings.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).