ECO A22 · English Opening

English Opening: King's English Variation, Bellon Gambit

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 e4 4. Ng5 b5

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

5. d3+0.51

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: King's English Variation, Bellon Gambit (A22), reached after 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 e4 4. Ng5 b5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. d3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.51).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.515. d3 bxc4 6. dxe4 Nc6 7. e3 h6 8. Nf3 Bb4 9. Qc2 O-O
  2. +0.305. Ngxe4 Nxe4 6. Nxe4 bxc4 7. Nc3 d5 8. g3 c6 9. Bg2 Be7
  3. +0.295. Qc2 bxc4 6. Ngxe4 Bb7 7. Nxf6+ Qxf6 8. b3 cxb3 9. Qxb3 Bc6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: King's English Variation, Bellon Gambit?
After 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 e4 4. Ng5 b5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. d3 for White, continuing bxc4 6. dxe4 Nc6 7. e3 h6 8. Nf3 Bb4 9. Qc2 O-O. White is slightly better (+0.51). The next best moves are 5. Ngxe4 (+0.30) and 5. Qc2 (+0.29).
Is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Bellon Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.51: 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 English Opening: King's English Variation, Bellon Gambit?
A22. 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+).