ECO C31 · King's Gambit Declined

King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Modern Transfer

1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 exf4

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

4. Nf3−0.42

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Modern Transfer (C31), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 exf4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Nf3 for White. Black is slightly better (−0.42).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.424. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bc4 Nxd5 6. Qe2+ Be7 7. d4 Be6 8. Nc3 Nxc3
  2. −0.454. d4 Bb4+ 5. c3 Qh4+ 6. Kd2 Be7 7. Nf3 Qh6 8. c4 Nf6
  3. −0.624. Bb5+ c6 5. dxc6 Nxc6 6. d4 Bd6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. d5 a6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Modern Transfer?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 exf4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Nf3 for White, continuing Nf6 5. Bc4 Nxd5 6. Qe2+ Be7 7. d4 Be6 8. Nc3 Nxc3. Black is slightly better (−0.42). The next best moves are 4. d4 (−0.45) and 4. Bb5+ (−0.62).
Is the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Modern Transfer a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.42: 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, Modern Transfer?
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+).