ECO C23 · Bishop's Opening

Bishop's Opening: Stein Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. f4

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

3… d5−0.92

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Bishop's Opening: Stein Gambit (C23), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. f4, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… d5 for Black. Black is clearly better (−0.92).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.923… d5 4. Bxd5 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nxd5 6. exd5 e4 7. d4 exd3 8. cxd3
  2. −0.583… Bxg1 4. Qh5 Qe7 5. Rxg1 Nc6 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. Qg5 exf4 8. d3
  3. −0.163… d6 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. d3 h6 6. fxe5 Nxe5 7. Bb3 Nf6 8. d4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Bishop's Opening: Stein Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. f4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… d5 for Black, continuing 4. Bxd5 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nxd5 6. exd5 e4 7. d4 exd3 8. cxd3. Black is clearly better (−0.92). The next best moves are 3… Bxg1 (−0.58) and 3… d6 (−0.16).
Is the Bishop's Opening: Stein Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.92: 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: Stein 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+).