ECO C23 · Bishop's Opening

Bishop's Opening: Thorold Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 b5 3. Bxb5 f5

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

4. exf5+1.92

White is winning. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Bishop's Opening: Thorold Gambit (C23), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 b5 3. Bxb5 f5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. exf5 for White. White is winning (+1.92).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.924. exf5 Qf6 5. Nf3 e4 6. Qe2 Qe7 7. Nd4 Nf6 8. d3 Qe5
  2. +1.544. d4 exd4 5. Qxd4 a6 6. Ba4 Nc6 7. Bxc6 dxc6 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8
  3. +1.514. Nc3 c6 5. Ba4 Nf6 6. d4 exd4 7. Qxd4 fxe4 8. Bg5 h6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Bishop's Opening: Thorold Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 b5 3. Bxb5 f5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. exf5 for White, continuing Qf6 5. Nf3 e4 6. Qe2 Qe7 7. Nd4 Nf6 8. d3 Qe5. White is winning (+1.92). The next best moves are 4. d4 (+1.54) and 4. Nc3 (+1.51).
Is the Bishop's Opening: Thorold Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.92: white 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: Thorold 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+).