ECO C40 · King's Pawn Game

King's Pawn Game: La Bourdonnais Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Qf6 3. Bc4 Qg6 4. O-O

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

4… d6+0.95

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Pawn Game: La Bourdonnais Gambit (C40), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Qf6 3. Bc4 Qg6 4. O-O, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… d6 for Black. White is clearly better (+0.95).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.954… d6 5. d4 Nc6 6. Ng5 Nh6 7. d5 Be7 8. dxc6 Bxg5 9. Bd5
  2. +1.014… Nc6 5. d4 d6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Re1 Nf6 8. Nd5 Nxd5 9. exd5
  3. +1.784… Bd6 5. d4 Nc6 6. Bd3 Qh5 7. c3 Nf6 8. Nbd2 Be7 9. Nxe5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Pawn Game: La Bourdonnais Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Qf6 3. Bc4 Qg6 4. O-O, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… d6 for Black, continuing 5. d4 Nc6 6. Ng5 Nh6 7. d5 Be7 8. dxc6 Bxg5 9. Bd5. White is clearly better (+0.95). The next best moves are 4… Nc6 (+1.01) and 4… Bd6 (+1.78).
Is the King's Pawn Game: La Bourdonnais Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.95: White is clearly better. That is a large edge for an opening position, so check the engine lines before playing it from the other side.
What is the ECO code of the King's Pawn Game: La Bourdonnais Gambit?
C40. 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+).