ECO C30 · King's Gambit Declined

King's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight Defense

1. e4 e5 2. f4 Nc6

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

3. Nf3+0.25

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight Defense (C30), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. Nf3 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.25).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.253. Nf3 exf4 4. d4 Nf6 5. e5 Ng4 6. Nc3 d6 7. h3 Ne3
  2. −0.253. Nc3 exf4 4. Nf3 g5 5. g3 Nf6 6. Bc4 g4 7. Nh4 d5
  3. −0.443. d3 exf4 4. Bxf4 d5 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Qa5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight Defense?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f4 Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. Nf3 for White, continuing exf4 4. d4 Nf6 5. e5 Ng4 6. Nc3 d6 7. h3 Ne3. The position is roughly equal (+0.25). The next best moves are 3. Nc3 (−0.25) and 3. d3 (−0.44).
Is the King's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.25: the position is roughly equal. 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: Queen's Knight 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+).