ECO C31 · King's Gambit Declined

King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Nimzowitsch-Marshall Countergambit

1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 c6

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

4. Qe2+0.38

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Nimzowitsch-Marshall Countergambit (C31), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 c6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Qe2 for White. White is slightly better (+0.38).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.384. Qe2 cxd5 5. fxe5 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Qf2 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Bc5
  2. +0.154. Ne2 exf4 5. Nxf4 cxd5 6. d4 Nc6 7. Be2 Nf6 8. O-O Bd6
  3. −0.094. Nf3 exf4 5. d4 Bd6 6. Nc3 Ne7 7. Bd3 cxd5 8. Ne5 Ng6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Nimzowitsch-Marshall Countergambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 c6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Qe2 for White, continuing cxd5 5. fxe5 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Qf2 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Bc5. White is slightly better (+0.38). The next best moves are 4. Ne2 (+0.15) and 4. Nf3 (−0.09).
Is the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Nimzowitsch-Marshall Countergambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.38: 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, Nimzowitsch-Marshall Countergambit?
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+).