ECO A30 · English Opening

English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Napolitano Gambit

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. b4

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

3… cxb4−0.83

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Napolitano Gambit (A30), reached after 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. b4, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… cxb4 for Black. Black is clearly better (−0.83).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.833… cxb4 4. a3 e6 5. Bb2 a5 6. axb4 Bxb4 7. Nc3 O-O 8. e3
  2. −0.093… d5 4. cxd5 cxb4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. e4 Nxe4 7. Qxb4 Ndf6 8. Bb5+
  3. +0.053… Nc6 4. b5 Nd4 5. e3 Nxf3+ 6. Qxf3 g6 7. Nc3 Bg7 8. Bb2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Napolitano Gambit?
After 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. b4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… cxb4 for Black, continuing 4. a3 e6 5. Bb2 a5 6. axb4 Bxb4 7. Nc3 O-O 8. e3. Black is clearly better (−0.83). The next best moves are 3… d5 (−0.09) and 3… Nc6 (+0.05).
Is the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Napolitano Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.83: black 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 Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Napolitano Gambit?
A30. 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+).