ECO C32 · King's Gambit Declined

King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Charousek Variation

1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. d3 Nf6 5. dxe4 Nxe4 6. Qe2 Qxd5 7. Nd2 f5 8. g4

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

8… Nc6−0.58

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Charousek Variation (C32), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. d3 Nf6 5. dxe4 Nxe4 6. Qe2 Qxd5 7. Nd2 f5 8. g4, Stockfish 18 recommends 8… Nc6 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.58).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.588… Nc6 9. c3 Be7 10. Bg2 Bh4+ 11. Kd1 Be6 12. Nf3 Bf6 13. gxf5
  2. −0.058… Be7 9. Bg2 Qa5 10. c3 Nxd2 11. Bxd2 Nc6 12. Bxc6+ bxc6 13. O-O-O
  3. +0.488… Qa5 9. gxf5 Bxf5 10. Bh3 g6 11. c3 Qa6 12. Bxf5 gxf5 13. Nxe4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Charousek Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. d3 Nf6 5. dxe4 Nxe4 6. Qe2 Qxd5 7. Nd2 f5 8. g4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8… Nc6 for Black, continuing 9. c3 Be7 10. Bg2 Bh4+ 11. Kd1 Be6 12. Nf3 Bf6 13. gxf5. Black is slightly better (−0.58). The next best moves are 8… Be7 (−0.05) and 8… Qa5 (+0.48).
Is the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Charousek Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.58: black 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 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+).