ECO C30 · King's Gambit Declined

King's Gambit Declined: Mafia Defense

1. e4 c5 2. f4 e5

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

3. Bc4+0.34

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Declined: Mafia Defense (C30), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. f4 e5, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. Bc4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.34).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.343. Bc4 exf4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. d3 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O
  2. +0.333. Nf3 exf4 4. d4 cxd4 5. Bxf4 Nc6 6. Bc4 Nf6 7. O-O Nxe4
  3. +0.253. Nc3 exf4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bc4 h6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nd5 Bc5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Declined: Mafia Defense?
After 1. e4 c5 2. f4 e5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. Bc4 for White, continuing exf4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. d3 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O. White is slightly better (+0.34). The next best moves are 3. Nf3 (+0.33) and 3. Nc3 (+0.25).
Is the King's Gambit Declined: Mafia Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.34: 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: Mafia Defense?
C30. 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+).