ECO C31 · King's Gambit Declined

King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Staunton Line

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

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

4. d3+0.49

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Staunton Line (C31), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. d3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.49).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.494. d3 Nf6 5. dxe4 Nxe4 6. Nf3 Bc5 7. Qe2 Bf5 8. Nc3 Qe7
  2. +0.124. Bb5+ c6 5. dxc6 Nxc6 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. d4 Bb4 8. Ne2 O-O
  3. +0.124. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bb5+ c6 6. dxc6 Nxc6 7. d4 Bb4 8. Ne2 O-O

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Staunton Line?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. d3 for White, continuing Nf6 5. dxe4 Nxe4 6. Nf3 Bc5 7. Qe2 Bf5 8. Nc3 Qe7. White is slightly better (+0.49). The next best moves are 4. Bb5+ (+0.12) and 4. Nc3 (+0.12).
Is the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Staunton Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.49: 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, Staunton Line?
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+).