ECO A40 · English Defense

English Defense: Eastbourne Gambit

1. d4 b6 2. c4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e5

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

4. dxe5+0.95

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Defense: Eastbourne Gambit (A40), reached after 1. d4 b6 2. c4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. dxe5 for White. White is clearly better (+0.95).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.954. dxe5 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bb4 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. Bxc3 Qe7 8. e3 O-O-O
  2. +0.644. d5 Bb4 5. Qc2 Ne7 6. e4 O-O 7. Nf3 Bxc3+ 8. Qxc3 d6
  3. +0.494. e3 exd4 5. exd4 Nf6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O Bxc3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Defense: Eastbourne Gambit?
After 1. d4 b6 2. c4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. dxe5 for White, continuing Nc6 5. Nf3 Bb4 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. Bxc3 Qe7 8. e3 O-O-O. White is clearly better (+0.95). The next best moves are 4. d5 (+0.64) and 4. e3 (+0.49).
Is the English Defense: Eastbourne Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.95: white 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 English Defense: Eastbourne Gambit?
A40. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; A is the volume for flank openings.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).