ECO C30 · King's Gambit Declined

King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Svenonius Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. f4 d6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 exf4

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

9. Bb5+0.02

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

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Svenonius Variation (C30), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. f4 d6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 exf4, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. Bb5 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.02).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.029. Bb5 O-O 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Na4 Bd4 12. c3 Bb6 13. Bxf4 Nd7
  2. −0.389. Qxf4 Ne5 10. Qh4 Nxc4 11. dxc4 Nd7 12. Bg5 f6 13. Bf4 Qe7
  3. −0.389. Bxf4 Nd4 10. Qd1 O-O 11. Na4 b5 12. Nxc5 dxc5 13. Bb3 a5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Svenonius Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. f4 d6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 exf4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. Bb5 for White, continuing O-O 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Na4 Bd4 12. c3 Bb6 13. Bxf4 Nd7. The position is roughly equal (+0.02). The next best moves are 9. Qxf4 (−0.38) and 9. Bxf4 (−0.38).
Is the King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Svenonius Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.02: 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, Svenonius 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+).