ECO C39 · King's Gambit Accepted

King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit, Paulsen Defense Deferred

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ne5 Nf6 6. Bc4 d5 7. exd5 Bg7

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

8. d4−0.43

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit, Paulsen Defense Deferred (C39), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ne5 Nf6 6. Bc4 d5 7. exd5 Bg7, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. d4 for White. Black is slightly better (−0.43).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.438. d4 Nh5 9. Bxf4 Nxf4 10. O-O Bxe5 11. dxe5 Ng6 12. Nc3 Qxh4
  2. −0.538. O-O Nh5 9. d4 O-O 10. Nxg4 Qxh4 11. Nh2 Bf5 12. Nf3 Qf6
  3. −1.178. Nc3 Nh5 9. d4 O-O 10. O-O Qxh4 11. Rxf4 Nxf4 12. Bxf4 g3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit, Paulsen Defense Deferred?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ne5 Nf6 6. Bc4 d5 7. exd5 Bg7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. d4 for White, continuing Nh5 9. Bxf4 Nxf4 10. O-O Bxe5 11. dxe5 Ng6 12. Nc3 Qxh4. Black is slightly better (−0.43). The next best moves are 8. O-O (−0.53) and 8. Nc3 (−1.17).
Is the King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit, Paulsen Defense Deferred a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.43: black 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 King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit, Paulsen Defense Deferred?
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+).