ECO C31 · King's Gambit Declined

King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit Accepted

1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5

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

3… exf4−0.33

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit Accepted (C31), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… exf4 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.33).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.333… exf4 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bc4 Nxd5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Bb5 g5 8. c4
  2. +0.093… c6 4. Qe2 cxd5 5. fxe5 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3
  3. +0.293… Bc5 4. Nc3 exf4 5. Nf3 Bd6 6. d4 Ne7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit Accepted?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… exf4 for Black, continuing 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bc4 Nxd5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Bb5 g5 8. c4. Black is slightly better (−0.33). The next best moves are 3… c6 (+0.09) and 3… Bc5 (+0.29).
Is the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit Accepted a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.33: 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: Falkbeer Countergambit Accepted?
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+).