Bishop's Opening: McDonnell Gambit, La Bourdonnais-Denker Gambit
1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. b4 Bxb4 4. c3
4… Ba5−0.03
The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Bishop's Opening: McDonnell Gambit, La Bourdonnais-Denker Gambit (C23), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. b4 Bxb4 4. c3, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Ba5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.03).
Top engine moves
- −0.034… Ba5 5. d4 Ne7 6. dxe5 O-O 7. Nf3 Nbc6 8. Ba3 d6 9. exd6
- +0.054… Be7 5. d4 d5 6. Bxd5 Nf6 7. dxe5 Nxd5 8. exd5 f6 9. exf6
- +0.234… Bd6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. d4 Nc6 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 h6 9. Nbd2
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Bishop's Opening: McDonnell Gambit, La Bourdonnais-Denker Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. b4 Bxb4 4. c3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Ba5 for Black, continuing 5. d4 Ne7 6. dxe5 O-O 7. Nf3 Nbc6 8. Ba3 d6 9. exd6. The position is roughly equal (−0.03). The next best moves are 4… Be7 (+0.05) and 4… Bd6 (+0.23).
Is the Bishop's Opening: McDonnell Gambit, La Bourdonnais-Denker Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.03: the position is roughly equal. 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: McDonnell Gambit, La Bourdonnais-Denker 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+).