ECO C31 · King's Gambit Declined

King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Milner-Barry Variation

1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. Nc3

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

3… d4−0.55

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Milner-Barry Variation (C31), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. Nc3, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… d4 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.55).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.553… d4 4. Nce2 Nc6 5. d3 Bg4 6. h3 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxe2 8. Nxe2
  2. −0.343… exf4 4. Nxd5 Qh4+ 5. Ke2 Bg4+ 6. Nf3 Bd6 7. Qe1 Qh5 8. Kd1
  3. −0.263… dxe4 4. fxe5 Nc6 5. Nxe4 Qd5 6. d3 Nxe5 7. Nf3 Bf5 8. Ng3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Milner-Barry Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. Nc3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… d4 for Black, continuing 4. Nce2 Nc6 5. d3 Bg4 6. h3 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxe2 8. Nxe2. Black is slightly better (−0.55). The next best moves are 3… exf4 (−0.34) and 3… dxe4 (−0.26).
Is the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Milner-Barry Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.55: 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, Milner-Barry Variation?
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+).