ECO C31 · King's Gambit Declined

King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit

1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

3. exd5−0.21

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

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit (C31), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. exd5 for White. The position is roughly equal (−0.21).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.213. exd5 exf4 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. c4 c6 6. d4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Bxc3+
  2. −0.273. Nf3 exf4 4. exd5 Be7 5. Be2 Bh4+ 6. Kf1 Bf6 7. d4 Ne7
  3. −0.493. d3 dxe4 4. dxe4 Qxd1+ 5. Kxd1 Nc6 6. h3 Bd7 7. Nc3 exf4

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. exd5 for White, continuing exf4 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. c4 c6 6. d4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Bxc3+. The position is roughly equal (−0.21). The next best moves are 3. Nf3 (−0.27) and 3. d3 (−0.49).
Is the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.21: 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: Falkbeer Countergambit?
C31. 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+).