ECO C37 · King's Gambit Accepted

King's Gambit Accepted: Salvio Gambit, Santa Maria Defense

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 g4 5. Ne5 Qh4+ 6. Kf1 Nf6

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

7. Qe1−0.62

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Accepted: Salvio Gambit, Santa Maria Defense (C37), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 g4 5. Ne5 Qh4+ 6. Kf1 Nf6, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. Qe1 for White. Black is slightly better (−0.62).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.627. Qe1 Qxe1+ 8. Kxe1 Nc6 9. Bxf7+ Ke7 10. Nxc6+ bxc6 11. Bb3 Bg7
  2. −0.937. d4 Bg7 8. Bxf4 O-O 9. Nc3 Nh5 10. Qd2 Nxf4 11. Qxf4 Nc6
  3. −1.027. Nc3 Nc6 8. Bxf7+ Ke7 9. d4 d6 10. Nxc6+ Kxf7 11. Nb4 f3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Accepted: Salvio Gambit, Santa Maria Defense?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 g4 5. Ne5 Qh4+ 6. Kf1 Nf6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. Qe1 for White, continuing Qxe1+ 8. Kxe1 Nc6 9. Bxf7+ Ke7 10. Nxc6+ bxc6 11. Bb3 Bg7. Black is slightly better (−0.62). The next best moves are 7. d4 (−0.93) and 7. Nc3 (−1.02).
Is the King's Gambit Accepted: Salvio Gambit, Santa Maria Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.62: 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: Salvio Gambit, Santa Maria Defense?
C37. 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+).