ECO C30 · King's Gambit Declined

King's Gambit Declined: Norwalde Variation, Schubert Variation

1. e4 e5 2. f4 Qf6 3. Nc3 Qxf4 4. d4

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

4… Qh4++0.67

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Declined: Norwalde Variation, Schubert Variation (C30), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 Qf6 3. Nc3 Qxf4 4. d4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Qh4+ for Black. White is slightly better (+0.67).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.674… Qh4+ 5. g3 Qd8 6. dxe5 d6 7. Nf3 Bg4 8. Bf4 Nd7 9. exd6
  2. +1.394… Qf6 5. dxe5 Qg6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. Bd3 Ne7 8. O-O Bxc3 9. bxc3
  3. +4.624… Qxf1+ 5. Kxf1 exd4 6. Nd5 Na6 7. h4 Bc5 8. b4 Bxb4 9. h5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Declined: Norwalde Variation, Schubert Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f4 Qf6 3. Nc3 Qxf4 4. d4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Qh4+ for Black, continuing 5. g3 Qd8 6. dxe5 d6 7. Nf3 Bg4 8. Bf4 Nd7 9. exd6. White is slightly better (+0.67). The next best moves are 4… Qf6 (+1.39) and 4… Qxf1+ (+4.62).
Is the King's Gambit Declined: Norwalde Variation, Schubert Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.67: 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: Norwalde Variation, Schubert Variation?
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+).