ECO C30 · King's Gambit Declined

King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Réti Variation

1. e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5 3. Nf3 d6 4. c3 f5 5. fxe5 dxe5 6. d4 exd4 7. Bc4

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

7… Nc6−0.25

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

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Réti Variation (C30), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5 3. Nf3 d6 4. c3 f5 5. fxe5 dxe5 6. d4 exd4 7. Bc4, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… Nc6 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.25).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.257… Nc6 8. Bg5 Nge7 9. Qb3 Rf8 10. Nbd2 h6 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. cxd4
  2. 0.007… fxe4 8. Nxd4 Qh4+ 9. g3 Qg4 10. Be2 Qh3 11. Bf1 Qg4 12. Bb5+
  3. +0.567… d3 8. Bg5 Nf6 9. Nbd2 Qe7 10. Bxd3 O-O 11. Qe2 h6 12. Bxf6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Réti Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5 3. Nf3 d6 4. c3 f5 5. fxe5 dxe5 6. d4 exd4 7. Bc4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… Nc6 for Black, continuing 8. Bg5 Nge7 9. Qb3 Rf8 10. Nbd2 h6 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. cxd4. The position is roughly equal (−0.25). The next best moves are 7… fxe4 (0.00) and 7… d3 (+0.56).
Is the King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Réti Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.25: 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 Declined: Classical, Réti Variation?
C30. 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+).