ECO A03 · Bird Opening

Bird Opening: Williams-Zilbermints Gambit

1. f4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nge2

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

4… Nc6−1.80

Black is winning. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Bird Opening: Williams-Zilbermints Gambit (A03), reached after 1. f4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nge2, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Nc6 for Black. Black is winning (−1.80).

Top engine moves

  1. −1.804… Nc6 5. Ng3 Bg4 6. Be2 Bxe2 7. Qxe2 Nd4 8. Qd1 Qd7 9. O-O
  2. −1.384… h5 5. Ng3 Nc6 6. Ngxe4 Nxe4 7. Nxe4 Bg4 8. Be2 Qd5 9. Bf3
  3. −1.344… Qd6 5. Ng3 Nc6 6. Ngxe4 Nxe4 7. Nxe4 Qxf4 8. d3 Qg4 9. Qxg4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Bird Opening: Williams-Zilbermints Gambit?
After 1. f4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nge2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Nc6 for Black, continuing 5. Ng3 Bg4 6. Be2 Bxe2 7. Qxe2 Nd4 8. Qd1 Qd7 9. O-O. Black is winning (−1.80). The next best moves are 4… h5 (−1.38) and 4… Qd6 (−1.34).
Is the Bird Opening: Williams-Zilbermints Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −1.80: black is winning. 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: Williams-Zilbermints 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+).