ECO C39 · King's Gambit Accepted

King's Gambit Accepted: Allgaier, Horny Defense

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ng5 h6 6. Nxf7 Kxf7 7. Qxg4 Nf6 8. Qxf4 Bd6

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

9. Qe3−1.64

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Accepted: Allgaier, Horny Defense (C39), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ng5 h6 6. Nxf7 Kxf7 7. Qxg4 Nf6 8. Qxf4 Bd6, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. Qe3 for White. Black is clearly better (−1.64).

Top engine moves

  1. −1.649. Qe3 c5 10. Na3 Nc6 11. Be2 Bb8 12. d3 d5 13. Bd2 d4
  2. −1.699. Bc4+ Kg7 10. Qe3 Nc6 11. d4 Nxe4 12. Kd1 Qe8 13. Rf1 Nf6
  3. −1.949. Qf2 Kg7 10. d3 Ng4 11. Qf3 h5 12. Be2 Be5 13. d4 Bxd4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Accepted: Allgaier, Horny Defense?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ng5 h6 6. Nxf7 Kxf7 7. Qxg4 Nf6 8. Qxf4 Bd6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. Qe3 for White, continuing c5 10. Na3 Nc6 11. Be2 Bb8 12. d3 d5 13. Bd2 d4. Black is clearly better (−1.64). The next best moves are 9. Bc4+ (−1.69) and 9. Qf2 (−1.94).
Is the King's Gambit Accepted: Allgaier, Horny Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −1.64: 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 King's Gambit Accepted: Allgaier, Horny Defense?
C39. 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+).