ECO C31 · King's Gambit Declined

King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Pickler Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 c6 4. dxc6 Bc5

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

5. Nf3+0.86

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Pickler Gambit (C31), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 c6 4. dxc6 Bc5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Nf3 for White. White is clearly better (+0.86).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.865. Nf3 e4 6. cxb7 Bxb7 7. Bb5+ Nd7 8. Ne5 Nf6 9. Nxd7 Nxd7
  2. +0.535. cxb7 Bxb7 6. Nf3 e4 7. Bb5+ Nd7 8. Ne5 Nf6 9. Nxd7 Nxd7
  3. +0.325. c7 Qxc7 6. fxe5 Nc6 7. c3 Bxg1 8. Rxg1 Nxe5 9. d4 Ng6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Pickler Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 c6 4. dxc6 Bc5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Nf3 for White, continuing e4 6. cxb7 Bxb7 7. Bb5+ Nd7 8. Ne5 Nf6 9. Nxd7 Nxd7. White is clearly better (+0.86). The next best moves are 5. cxb7 (+0.53) and 5. c7 (+0.32).
Is the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Pickler Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.86: white is clearly 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, Pickler Gambit?
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+).