ECO A03 · Bird Opening

Bird Opening: Thomas Gambit

1. f4 d5 2. b3 Nf6 3. Bb2 d4 4. Nf3 c5 5. e3

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

5… Qc7+0.58

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Bird Opening: Thomas Gambit (A03), reached after 1. f4 d5 2. b3 Nf6 3. Bb2 d4 4. Nf3 c5 5. e3, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… Qc7 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.58).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.585… Qc7 6. Na3 e6 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. Qe2 a6 9. Nc4 b5 10. Nce5
  2. +0.665… Nc6 6. Bb5 Qc7 7. Na3 Bd7 8. Qe2 e6 9. Nc4 a6 10. Bxc6
  3. +0.675… Nd5 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Bxd7+ Qxd7 8. Ne5 Qe6 9. O-O f6 10. Nd3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Bird Opening: Thomas Gambit?
After 1. f4 d5 2. b3 Nf6 3. Bb2 d4 4. Nf3 c5 5. e3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… Qc7 for Black, continuing 6. Na3 e6 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. Qe2 a6 9. Nc4 b5 10. Nce5. White is slightly better (+0.58). The next best moves are 5… Nc6 (+0.66) and 5… Nd5 (+0.67).
Is the Bird Opening: Thomas Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.58: 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: Thomas Gambit?
A03. 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+).