ECO C20 · King's Pawn Opening

King's Pawn Opening: Van Hooydoon Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Qe2 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Nxd4

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

7. Nxd4−1.15

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Pawn Opening: Van Hooydoon Gambit (C20), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Qe2 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Nxd4, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. Nxd4 for White. Black is clearly better (−1.15).

Top engine moves

  1. −1.157. Nxd4 Bxd4 8. Be3 Bxe3 9. Qxe3 O-O 10. Nc3 Re8 11. O-O-O c6
  2. −1.597. Qd3 Nxf3+ 8. gxf3 d5 9. Bg5 O-O 10. Rg1 c6 11. Nc3 Re8
  3. −1.857. Qc4 Nxf3+ 8. gxf3 Qe7 9. Be2 d6 10. Rg1 Be6 11. Qa4+ Bd7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Pawn Opening: Van Hooydoon Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Qe2 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Nxd4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. Nxd4 for White, continuing Bxd4 8. Be3 Bxe3 9. Qxe3 O-O 10. Nc3 Re8 11. O-O-O c6. Black is clearly better (−1.15). The next best moves are 7. Qd3 (−1.59) and 7. Qc4 (−1.85).
Is the King's Pawn Opening: Van Hooydoon Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −1.15: 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 Opening: Van Hooydoon 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+).