ECO C38 · King's Gambit Accepted

King's Gambit Accepted: Philidor Gambit, Schultz Variation

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 h6 4. Bc4 d6 5. d4 g5 6. h4 Bg7 7. Qd3

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

7… Nc6−0.73

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Accepted: Philidor Gambit, Schultz Variation (C38), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 h6 4. Bc4 d6 5. d4 g5 6. h4 Bg7 7. Qd3, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… Nc6 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.73).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.737… Nc6 8. Nc3 Bg4 9. Bb5 Bd7 10. Bxc6 Bxc6 11. Bd2 g4 12. Ng1
  2. −0.477… g4 8. Ng1 Qf6 9. Nc3 Qxd4 10. Qxd4 Bxd4 11. Nge2 Bb6 12. Bxf4
  3. −0.207… Bg4 8. Qb3 Nc6 9. Bxf7+ Kf8 10. hxg5 Bxf3 11. Bxg8 Rxg8 12. Qxf3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Accepted: Philidor Gambit, Schultz Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 h6 4. Bc4 d6 5. d4 g5 6. h4 Bg7 7. Qd3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… Nc6 for Black, continuing 8. Nc3 Bg4 9. Bb5 Bd7 10. Bxc6 Bxc6 11. Bd2 g4 12. Ng1. Black is slightly better (−0.73). The next best moves are 7… g4 (−0.47) and 7… Bg4 (−0.20).
Is the King's Gambit Accepted: Philidor Gambit, Schultz Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.73: 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: Philidor Gambit, Schultz Variation?
C38. 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+).