ECO B00 · Nimzowitsch Defense

Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Herford Gambit

1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 Qh4

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

4. Nf3+1.34

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Herford Gambit (B00), reached after 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 Qh4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Nf3 for White. White is clearly better (+1.34).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.344. Nf3 Qxe4+ 5. Be2 Bb4+ 6. c3 Be7 7. Nbd2 Qg6 8. Nc4 d5
  2. +1.324. Qe2 Nxe5 5. g3 Qd8 6. Bd2 Bc5 7. f4 Nc6 8. Nc3 d6
  3. +0.994. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bd2 Bxc3 6. Bxc3 Qxe4+ 7. Qe2 Qxe2+ 8. Nxe2 Nge7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Herford Gambit?
After 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 Qh4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Nf3 for White, continuing Qxe4+ 5. Be2 Bb4+ 6. c3 Be7 7. Nbd2 Qg6 8. Nc4 d5. White is clearly better (+1.34). The next best moves are 4. Qe2 (+1.32) and 4. Nc3 (+0.99).
Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Herford Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.34: 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, Herford 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+).