ECO C23 · Bishop's Opening

Bishop's Opening: Lopez Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. Qe2 Nc6 4. c3 Nf6 5. f4

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

5… O-O−2.08

Black is winning. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Bishop's Opening: Lopez Gambit (C23), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. Qe2 Nc6 4. c3 Nf6 5. f4, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… O-O for Black. Black is winning (−2.08).

Top engine moves

  1. −2.085… O-O 6. fxe5 Nxe5 7. d4 Nxc4 8. Qxc4 d5 9. Qf1 Nxe4 10. dxc5
  2. −1.785… Bxg1 6. Rxg1 O-O 7. f5 d5 8. exd5 Na5 9. Bd3 e4 10. Bc2
  3. −0.855… d6 6. d3 O-O 7. f5 d5 8. Bb5 h6 9. Nd2 Re8 10. Nb3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Bishop's Opening: Lopez Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. Qe2 Nc6 4. c3 Nf6 5. f4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… O-O for Black, continuing 6. fxe5 Nxe5 7. d4 Nxc4 8. Qxc4 d5 9. Qf1 Nxe4 10. dxc5. Black is winning (−2.08). The next best moves are 5… Bxg1 (−1.78) and 5… d6 (−0.85).
Is the Bishop's Opening: Lopez Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −2.08: 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 Bishop's Opening: Lopez 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+).