ECO A02 · Bird Opening

Bird Opening: Schlechter Gambit

1. f4 e5 2. fxe5 Nc6

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

3. Nf3+0.39

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Bird Opening: Schlechter Gambit (A02), reached after 1. f4 e5 2. fxe5 Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. Nf3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.39).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.393. Nf3 d6 4. exd6 Bxd6 5. d4 Nf6 6. e3 Ng4 7. Bd3 O-O
  2. +0.363. Nc3 d6 4. exd6 Bxd6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. e3 f5 7. Nb5 Nf6
  3. −0.023. e3 Nxe5 4. Nf3 Nxf3+ 5. Qxf3 d5 6. b3 Bd6 7. Bb2 Qg5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Bird Opening: Schlechter Gambit?
After 1. f4 e5 2. fxe5 Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. Nf3 for White, continuing d6 4. exd6 Bxd6 5. d4 Nf6 6. e3 Ng4 7. Bd3 O-O. White is slightly better (+0.39). The next best moves are 3. Nc3 (+0.36) and 3. e3 (−0.02).
Is the Bird Opening: Schlechter Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.39: white 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: Schlechter Gambit?
A02. 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+).