ECO C31 · King's Gambit Declined

King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Charousek Gambit, Morphy Defense

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. exd5 e4 5. d3 Bb4 6. Bd2 e3

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

7. Bxe3+0.01

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

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Charousek Gambit, Morphy Defense (C31), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. exd5 e4 5. d3 Bb4 6. Bd2 e3, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. Bxe3 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.01).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.017. Bxe3 O-O 8. Bd2 Re8+ 9. Be2 Qd6 10. Nf3 Bxc3 11. bxc3 Nxd5
  2. −1.397. Qe2 Nxd5 8. a3 Ba5 9. b4 O-O 10. Nxd5 exd2+ 11. Qxd2 Qxd5
  3. −2.897. Bc1 Nxd5 8. Qh5 Nxc3 9. a3 e2 10. Qe5+ Kf8 11. axb4 exf1=R+

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Charousek Gambit, Morphy Defense?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. exd5 e4 5. d3 Bb4 6. Bd2 e3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. Bxe3 for White, continuing O-O 8. Bd2 Re8+ 9. Be2 Qd6 10. Nf3 Bxc3 11. bxc3 Nxd5. The position is roughly equal (+0.01). The next best moves are 7. Qe2 (−1.39) and 7. Bc1 (−2.89).
Is the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Charousek Gambit, Morphy Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.01: 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, Charousek Gambit, Morphy Defense?
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+).