ECO C39 · King's Gambit Accepted

King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit, Rice Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ne5 Nf6 6. Bc4 d5 7. exd5 Bd6 8. O-O Bxe5

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

9. d4−1.21

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit, Rice Gambit (C39), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ne5 Nf6 6. Bc4 d5 7. exd5 Bd6 8. O-O Bxe5, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. d4 for White. Black is clearly better (−1.21).

Top engine moves

  1. −1.219. d4 Bd6 10. Bxf4 Bxf4 11. Qe1+ Qe7 12. Qxe7+ Kxe7 13. Rxf4 Ne8
  2. −1.519. Re1 Qe7 10. c3 Nh5 11. d4 Nd7 12. Qxg4 Ndf6 13. Qxc8+ Rxc8
  3. −3.099. Bb5+ c6 10. d4 Bc7 11. Qe2+ Qe7 12. Qxe7+ Kxe7 13. dxc6 bxc6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit, Rice Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ne5 Nf6 6. Bc4 d5 7. exd5 Bd6 8. O-O Bxe5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. d4 for White, continuing Bd6 10. Bxf4 Bxf4 11. Qe1+ Qe7 12. Qxe7+ Kxe7 13. Rxf4 Ne8. Black is clearly better (−1.21). The next best moves are 9. Re1 (−1.51) and 9. Bb5+ (−3.09).
Is the King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit, Rice Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −1.21: Black is clearly better. That is a large edge for an opening position, so check the engine lines before playing it from the other side.
What is the ECO code of the King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit, Rice Gambit?
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+).