ECO C31 · King's Gambit Declined

King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Blackburne Attack

1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. Nf3

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

3… exf4−0.26

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

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Blackburne Attack (C31), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. Nf3, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… exf4 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.26).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.263… exf4 4. exd5 Be7 5. Bb5+ c6 6. dxc6 Nxc6 7. d4 Bh4+ 8. Kf1
  2. −0.263… dxe4 4. Nxe5 Nd7 5. d4 exd3 6. Bxd3 Nxe5 7. fxe5 Bc5 8. Qe2
  3. −0.053… Bg4 4. h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 dxe4 6. Qxe4 Qh4+ 7. Kd1 Nc6 8. Bb5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Blackburne Attack?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. Nf3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… exf4 for Black, continuing 4. exd5 Be7 5. Bb5+ c6 6. dxc6 Nxc6 7. d4 Bh4+ 8. Kf1. The position is roughly equal (−0.26). The next best moves are 3… dxe4 (−0.26) and 3… Bg4 (−0.05).
Is the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Blackburne Attack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.26: 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, Blackburne Attack?
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+).