ECO C32 · King's Gambit Declined

King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Alapin Variation

1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. d3 Nf6 5. dxe4 Nxe4 6. Nf3 Bc5 7. Qe2 Bf2+ 8. Kd1 Qxd5+ 9. Nfd2

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

9… f5+2.48

White is winning. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Alapin Variation (C32), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. d3 Nf6 5. dxe4 Nxe4 6. Nf3 Bc5 7. Qe2 Bf2+ 8. Kd1 Qxd5+ 9. Nfd2, Stockfish 18 recommends 9… f5 for Black. White is winning (+2.48).

Top engine moves

  1. +2.489… f5 10. Nc3 Qd4 11. Nxe4 fxe4 12. c3 Qa4+ 13. b3 Qa5 14. Nxe4
  2. +2.679… O-O 10. Qxe4 Qd8 11. Bd3 g6 12. Qf3 Bh4 13. g3 Bf6 14. Re1
  3. +3.099… Bd4 10. Qxe4+ Qxe4 11. Nxe4 Nc6 12. Nbd2 Bf5 13. Bd3 O-O 14. Nc3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Alapin Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. d3 Nf6 5. dxe4 Nxe4 6. Nf3 Bc5 7. Qe2 Bf2+ 8. Kd1 Qxd5+ 9. Nfd2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9… f5 for Black, continuing 10. Nc3 Qd4 11. Nxe4 fxe4 12. c3 Qa4+ 13. b3 Qa5 14. Nxe4. White is winning (+2.48). The next best moves are 9… O-O (+2.67) and 9… Bd4 (+3.09).
Is the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Alapin Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +2.48: white is winning. 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, Alapin Variation?
C32. 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+).