ECO C40 · Elephant Gambit

Elephant Gambit: Wasp Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nxe5 dxe4 4. Bc4 Qg5

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

5. Bxf7++1.05

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Elephant Gambit: Wasp Variation (C40), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nxe5 dxe4 4. Bc4 Qg5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Bxf7+ for White. White is clearly better (+1.05).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.055. Bxf7+ Kd8 6. d4 Qxg2 7. Rf1 Nf6 8. Bf4 Bd6 9. Nc3 Bg4
  2. +1.025. d4 Qxg2 6. Bxf7+ Ke7 7. Rf1 Nf6 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. Bc4 Bh3
  3. −1.135. f4 Qxg2 6. Bxf7+ Ke7 7. Rf1 Bh3 8. Bc4 Nf6 9. d4 Qxh2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Elephant Gambit: Wasp Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nxe5 dxe4 4. Bc4 Qg5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Bxf7+ for White, continuing Kd8 6. d4 Qxg2 7. Rf1 Nf6 8. Bf4 Bd6 9. Nc3 Bg4. White is clearly better (+1.05). The next best moves are 5. d4 (+1.02) and 5. f4 (−1.13).
Is the Elephant Gambit: Wasp Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.05: White is clearly better. That is a large edge for an opening position, so check the engine lines before playing it from the other side.
What is the ECO code of the Elephant Gambit: Wasp Variation?
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+).