ECO C31 · King's Gambit Declined

King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Charousek Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. d3

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

4… Qxd5+0.53

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Charousek Gambit (C31), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. d3, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Qxd5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.53).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.534… Qxd5 5. Qe2 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Bd2 Bxc3 8. Bxc3 Be6 9. Rd1
  2. +0.564… Nf6 5. dxe4 Nxe4 6. Nf3 c6 7. Qe2 cxd5 8. Nbd2 f5 9. Nxe4
  3. +0.724… exd3 5. Qxd3 Na6 6. Qe3+ Be7 7. Bxa6 bxa6 8. c4 Nf6 9. Nf3

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. d3 Nf6 5. dxe4 Nxe4 6. Qe2

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Charousek Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. d3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Qxd5 for Black, continuing 5. Qe2 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Bd2 Bxc3 8. Bxc3 Be6 9. Rd1. White is slightly better (+0.53). The next best moves are 4… Nf6 (+0.56) and 4… exd3 (+0.72).
Is the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Charousek Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.53: white 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, Charousek Gambit?
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+).