ECO C30 · King's Gambit Declined

King's Gambit Declined: Classical Variation, Rotlewi Countergambit

1. e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5 3. Nf3 d6 4. b4

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

4… Bxb4−0.63

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Declined: Classical Variation, Rotlewi Countergambit (C30), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5 3. Nf3 d6 4. b4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Bxb4 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.63).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.634… Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. fxe5 dxe5 7. Bc4 Nc6 8. O-O Nf6 9. d4
  2. −0.244… Bb6 5. a4 a5 6. bxa5 Rxa5 7. Na3 d5 8. exd5 e4 9. Ne5
  3. +0.704… Bd4 5. Nxd4 exd4 6. d3 a6 7. Be2 Qh4+ 8. g3 Qe7 9. Bb2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Declined: Classical Variation, Rotlewi Countergambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5 3. Nf3 d6 4. b4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Bxb4 for Black, continuing 5. c3 Ba5 6. fxe5 dxe5 7. Bc4 Nc6 8. O-O Nf6 9. d4. Black is slightly better (−0.63). The next best moves are 4… Bb6 (−0.24) and 4… Bd4 (+0.70).
Is the King's Gambit Declined: Classical Variation, Rotlewi Countergambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.63: 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 Declined: Classical Variation, Rotlewi Countergambit?
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+).