ECO C40 · Elephant Gambit

Elephant Gambit: Paulsen Countergambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 e4

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

4. Qe2+0.75

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Elephant Gambit: Paulsen Countergambit (C40), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 e4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Qe2 for White. White is slightly better (+0.75).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.754. Qe2 Nf6 5. d3 Qxd5 6. Nbd2 Nc6 7. dxe4 Qh5 8. Qb5 Bc5
  2. +0.184. Ne5 Qxd5 5. d4 exd3 6. Nxd3 Nc6 7. Nc3 Qa5 8. Bd2 Bf5
  3. +0.014. Nd4 Qxd5 5. Nb5 Qe5 6. Qe2 Nc6 7. N1c3 Nf6 8. d4 Nxd4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Elephant Gambit: Paulsen Countergambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 e4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Qe2 for White, continuing Nf6 5. d3 Qxd5 6. Nbd2 Nc6 7. dxe4 Qh5 8. Qb5 Bc5. White is slightly better (+0.75). The next best moves are 4. Ne5 (+0.18) and 4. Nd4 (+0.01).
Is the Elephant Gambit: Paulsen Countergambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.75: white is slightly 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 Elephant Gambit: Paulsen Countergambit?
C40. 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+).