ECO C23 · Bishop's Opening

Bishop's Opening: McDonnell Gambit, McDonnell Double Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. b4 Bxb4 4. f4

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

4… exf4−1.19

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Bishop's Opening: McDonnell Gambit, McDonnell Double Gambit (C23), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. b4 Bxb4 4. f4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… exf4 for Black. Black is clearly better (−1.19).

Top engine moves

  1. −1.194… exf4 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. e5 Ng4 7. O-O d5 8. exd6 O-O 9. h3
  2. −1.184… d5 5. Bxd5 Nf6 6. Nc3 c6 7. fxe5 Ng4 8. Bb3 Bxc3 9. dxc3
  3. −1.164… Nc6 5. Nf3 exf4 6. c3 Ba5 7. d4 Nf6 8. e5 Ne4 9. Qb3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Bishop's Opening: McDonnell Gambit, McDonnell Double Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. b4 Bxb4 4. f4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… exf4 for Black, continuing 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. e5 Ng4 7. O-O d5 8. exd6 O-O 9. h3. Black is clearly better (−1.19). The next best moves are 4… d5 (−1.18) and 4… Nc6 (−1.16).
Is the Bishop's Opening: McDonnell Gambit, McDonnell Double Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −1.19: 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: McDonnell Gambit, McDonnell Double 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+).