ECO C20 · King's Pawn Game

King's Pawn Game: King's Head Opening

1. e4 e5 2. f3

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

2… Bc5−0.81

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Pawn Game: King's Head Opening (C20), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f3, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… Bc5 for Black. Black is clearly better (−0.81).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.812… Bc5 3. c3 Nc6 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Nge7 6. Ne2 Bb6 7. a4
  2. −0.712… Nf6 3. Ne2 d5 4. d4 exd4 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Qxd4 Nb6 7. Nf4
  3. −0.652… d5 3. d4 dxe4 4. dxe5 Qxd1+ 5. Kxd1 Nc6 6. fxe4 Bg4+ 7. Nf3

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e5 2. f3 Nf6 3. Nc3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Pawn Game: King's Head Opening?
After 1. e4 e5 2. f3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… Bc5 for Black, continuing 3. c3 Nc6 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Nge7 6. Ne2 Bb6 7. a4. Black is clearly better (−0.81). The next best moves are 2… Nf6 (−0.71) and 2… d5 (−0.65).
Is the King's Pawn Game: King's Head Opening a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.81: black 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 Pawn Game: King's Head Opening?
C20. 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+).