ECO C44 · King's Pawn Game

King's Pawn Game: Schulze-Müller Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nxe5 Nxe5 4. d4

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

4… Ng6−2.07

Black is winning. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Pawn Game: Schulze-Müller Gambit (C44), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nxe5 Nxe5 4. d4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Ng6 for Black. Black is winning (−2.07).

Top engine moves

  1. −2.074… Ng6 5. c4 c5 6. Nc3 cxd4 7. Qxd4 N8e7 8. Be3 Nc6 9. Qd2
  2. −1.874… Nc6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bc4 Nf6 7. e5 Ne4 8. Qg4 d5 9. Qxg7
  3. +0.184… Qh4 5. dxe5 Qxe4+ 6. Be2 Qxe5 7. O-O Bb4 8. Bf3 Ne7 9. a3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Pawn Game: Schulze-Müller Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nxe5 Nxe5 4. d4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Ng6 for Black, continuing 5. c4 c5 6. Nc3 cxd4 7. Qxd4 N8e7 8. Be3 Nc6 9. Qd2. Black is winning (−2.07). The next best moves are 4… Nc6 (−1.87) and 4… Qh4 (+0.18).
Is the King's Pawn Game: Schulze-Müller Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −2.07: black is winning. 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: Schulze-Müller Gambit?
C44. 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+).