ECO C35 · King's Gambit Accepted

King's Gambit Accepted: Cunningham Defense, McCormick Defense

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 Be7 4. Bc4 Nf6

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

5. e5−0.26

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Accepted: Cunningham Defense, McCormick Defense (C35), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 Be7 4. Bc4 Nf6, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. e5 for White. The position is roughly equal (−0.26).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.265. e5 Ne4 6. Bd5 Ng5 7. d4 d6 8. Bxf4 dxe5 9. dxe5 Ne6
  2. −0.525. d3 d5 6. exd5 Nxd5 7. Bxd5 Qxd5 8. Bxf4 Nc6 9. Bxc7 Bg4
  3. −0.715. Qe2 d5 6. exd5 O-O 7. d4 Bb4+ 8. c3 Bg4 9. O-O Bd6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Accepted: Cunningham Defense, McCormick Defense?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 Be7 4. Bc4 Nf6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. e5 for White, continuing Ne4 6. Bd5 Ng5 7. d4 d6 8. Bxf4 dxe5 9. dxe5 Ne6. The position is roughly equal (−0.26). The next best moves are 5. d3 (−0.52) and 5. Qe2 (−0.71).
Is the King's Gambit Accepted: Cunningham Defense, McCormick Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.26: the position is roughly equal. 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: Cunningham Defense, McCormick Defense?
C35. 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+).