ECO C20 · King's Pawn Game

King's Pawn Game: MacLeod Attack, Norwalde Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. c3 d5 3. Qh5 Bd6

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

4. d3−0.78

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Pawn Game: MacLeod Attack, Norwalde Gambit (C20), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. c3 d5 3. Qh5 Bd6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. d3 for White. Black is slightly better (−0.78).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.784. d3 Nf6 5. Qd1 dxe4 6. dxe4 Nbd7 7. Nd2 Nc5 8. Qc2 a5
  2. −0.874. exd5 Nf6 5. Qd1 O-O 6. d3 Re8 7. Be2 Nxd5 8. Nf3 c5
  3. −1.044. Qe2 dxe4 5. Qxe4 Nc6 6. Qc2 Be6 7. d3 f5 8. Be2 Qd7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Pawn Game: MacLeod Attack, Norwalde Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. c3 d5 3. Qh5 Bd6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. d3 for White, continuing Nf6 5. Qd1 dxe4 6. dxe4 Nbd7 7. Nd2 Nc5 8. Qc2 a5. Black is slightly better (−0.78). The next best moves are 4. exd5 (−0.87) and 4. Qe2 (−1.04).
Is the King's Pawn Game: MacLeod Attack, Norwalde Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.78: black 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 Pawn Game: MacLeod Attack, Norwalde Gambit?
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+).