ECO C23 · Bishop's Opening

Bishop's Opening: Lopez Variation, Lopez Gambit

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

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

4… d5−1.15

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Bishop's Opening: Lopez Variation, Lopez Gambit (C23), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. Qe2 Nf6 4. f4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… d5 for Black. Black is clearly better (−1.15).

Top engine moves

  1. −1.154… d5 5. Bxd5 Nxd5 6. exd5 O-O 7. fxe5 Nd7 8. d4 Qh4+ 9. g3
  2. −0.804… exf4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. d3 O-O 7. Nc3 Re8 8. Bxf4 Nd4 9. Nxd4
  3. −0.754… Nc6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. fxe5 Nxe5 7. Nxe5 d5 8. Bxd5 Nxd5 9. d3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Bishop's Opening: Lopez Variation, Lopez Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. Qe2 Nf6 4. f4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… d5 for Black, continuing 5. Bxd5 Nxd5 6. exd5 O-O 7. fxe5 Nd7 8. d4 Qh4+ 9. g3. Black is clearly better (−1.15). The next best moves are 4… exf4 (−0.80) and 4… Nc6 (−0.75).
Is the Bishop's Opening: Lopez Variation, Lopez Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −1.15: 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 Bishop's Opening: Lopez Variation, 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+).