ECO A02 · Bird Opening

Bird Opening: Siegener Gambit

1. f4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 c5 4. c3

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

4… Nf6−1.08

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Bird Opening: Siegener Gambit (A02), reached after 1. f4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 c5 4. c3, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Nf6 for Black. Black is clearly better (−1.08).

Top engine moves

  1. −1.084… Nf6 5. cxd4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Nc6 7. e3 Bc5 8. Be2 O-O 9. Nb3
  2. −1.074… Nc6 5. cxd4 cxd4 6. e4 dxe3 7. Bxe3 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 Nf6 9. Bb5
  3. −1.044… d5 5. cxd4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Bc5 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. e3 O-O 9. Bb5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Bird Opening: Siegener Gambit?
After 1. f4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 c5 4. c3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Nf6 for Black, continuing 5. cxd4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Nc6 7. e3 Bc5 8. Be2 O-O 9. Nb3. Black is clearly better (−1.08). The next best moves are 4… Nc6 (−1.07) and 4… d5 (−1.04).
Is the Bird Opening: Siegener Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −1.08: black is clearly 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: Siegener 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+).