ECO B21 · Bird Opening

Bird Opening: Dutch Variation, Batavo Gambit

1. e4 c5 2. f4 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4

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

4. Ne5−0.37

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Bird Opening: Dutch Variation, Batavo Gambit (B21), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. f4 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Ne5 for White. Black is slightly better (−0.37).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.374. Ne5 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Bc4 e6 7. d3 exd3 8. Be3 Bg7
  2. −0.684. Bb5+ Nd7 5. Ne5 Nf6 6. Nc3 a6 7. Bxd7+ Nxd7 8. Nxe4 g6
  3. −1.134. Ng5 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bf5 6. Bb5+ Nc6 7. Qe2 Qb6 8. Ba4 e6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Bird Opening: Dutch Variation, Batavo Gambit?
After 1. e4 c5 2. f4 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Ne5 for White, continuing Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Bc4 e6 7. d3 exd3 8. Be3 Bg7. Black is slightly better (−0.37). The next best moves are 4. Bb5+ (−0.68) and 4. Ng5 (−1.13).
Is the Bird Opening: Dutch Variation, Batavo Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.37: black is slightly better. 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 Bird Opening: Dutch Variation, Batavo Gambit?
B21. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).

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