ECO C23 · Bishop's Opening

Bishop's Opening: Four Pawns Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. b4 Bxb4 4. f4 exf4 5. Nf3 Be7 6. d4 Bh4+ 7. g3 fxg3 8. O-O gxh2+ 9. Kh1

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

9… d5+0.57

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Bishop's Opening: Four Pawns Gambit (C23), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. b4 Bxb4 4. f4 exf4 5. Nf3 Be7 6. d4 Bh4+ 7. g3 fxg3 8. O-O gxh2+ 9. Kh1, Stockfish 18 recommends 9… d5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.57).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.579… d5 10. exd5 Bh3 11. Nc3 Bxf1 12. Qxf1 Be7 13. Ne5 Nf6 14. d6
  2. +1.559… Bf6 10. Ne5 Qe7 11. Nc3 Bxe5 12. Bxf7+ Kd8 13. Nd5 Qh4 14. dxe5
  3. +1.579… d6 10. Bxf7+ Kxf7 11. Ng5+ Ke8 12. Qh5+ g6 13. Qxh4 Nf6 14. Nc3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Bishop's Opening: Four Pawns Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. b4 Bxb4 4. f4 exf4 5. Nf3 Be7 6. d4 Bh4+ 7. g3 fxg3 8. O-O gxh2+ 9. Kh1, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9… d5 for Black, continuing 10. exd5 Bh3 11. Nc3 Bxf1 12. Qxf1 Be7 13. Ne5 Nf6 14. d6. White is slightly better (+0.57). The next best moves are 9… Bf6 (+1.55) and 9… d6 (+1.57).
Is the Bishop's Opening: Four Pawns Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.57: 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 Bishop's Opening: Four Pawns Gambit?
C23. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

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