ECO C20 · King's Pawn Game

King's Pawn Game: Philidor Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. d4 d6 3. dxe5 Bd7

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

4. Nf3+1.29

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Pawn Game: Philidor Gambit (C20), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. d4 d6 3. dxe5 Bd7, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Nf3 for White. White is clearly better (+1.29).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.294. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bg5 Be7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. exd6 Qxe4+ 8. Be2 Qf4
  2. +0.984. exd6 Bxd6 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nc3 Qe7 7. Nge2 O-O-O 8. Be3 f5
  3. +0.874. Qd5 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qc8 6. exd6 Nf6 7. Qc4 Bxd6 8. Bg5 Ng4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Pawn Game: Philidor Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. d4 d6 3. dxe5 Bd7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Nf3 for White, continuing Nc6 5. Bg5 Be7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. exd6 Qxe4+ 8. Be2 Qf4. White is clearly better (+1.29). The next best moves are 4. exd6 (+0.98) and 4. Qd5 (+0.87).
Is the King's Pawn Game: Philidor Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.29: white 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: Philidor 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+).