ECO B00 · Nimzowitsch Defense

Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Hammer Gambit

1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 f6

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

4. Bc4+1.28

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Hammer Gambit (B00), reached after 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 f6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Bc4 for White. White is clearly better (+1.28).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.284. Bc4 fxe5 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Ng5 d5 7. exd5 Na5 8. Bb5+ c6
  2. +1.174. Nf3 fxe5 5. Bc4 Nf6 6. O-O Bc5 7. Ng5 Qe7 8. Nc3 Nd8
  3. +0.894. Bb5 Nxe5 5. Nf3 Bb4+ 6. Nbd2 c6 7. Nxe5 fxe5 8. Qh5+ Kf8

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Hammer Gambit?
After 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 f6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Bc4 for White, continuing fxe5 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Ng5 d5 7. exd5 Na5 8. Bb5+ c6. White is clearly better (+1.28). The next best moves are 4. Nf3 (+1.17) and 4. Bb5 (+0.89).
Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Hammer Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.28: 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 Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Hammer Gambit?
B00. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).