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. That is a large edge for an opening position, so check the engine lines before playing it from the other side.
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+).