ECO C44 · Dresden Opening

Dresden Opening: The Goblin

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nxe5

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

4… Nxe5−2.07

Black is winning. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Dresden Opening: The Goblin (C44), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nxe5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Nxe5 for Black. Black is winning (−2.07).

Top engine moves

  1. −2.074… Nxe5 5. d4 Nc6 6. Nc3 d6 7. d5 Ne5 8. f4 Ng6 9. Bd3
  2. −0.344… Nxe4 5. Qe2 Qe7 6. Nxc6 dxc6 7. d4 Bd7 8. Nd2 Nd6 9. Nf3
  3. −0.094… Qe7 5. Nf3 d5 6. cxd5 Qxe4+ 7. Be2 Qxd5 8. d4 Be6 9. Nc3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Dresden Opening: The Goblin?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nxe5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Nxe5 for Black, continuing 5. d4 Nc6 6. Nc3 d6 7. d5 Ne5 8. f4 Ng6 9. Bd3. Black is winning (−2.07). The next best moves are 4… Nxe4 (−0.34) and 4… Qe7 (−0.09).
Is the Dresden Opening: The Goblin a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −2.07: black 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 Dresden Opening: The Goblin?
C44. 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+).