ECO A00 · Polish Opening

Polish Opening: Birmingham Gambit

1. b4 c5

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

2. bxc5+0.04

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Polish Opening: Birmingham Gambit (A00), reached after 1. b4 c5, Stockfish 18 recommends 2. bxc5 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.04).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.042. bxc5 e5 3. e3 Bxc5 4. d4 exd4 5. exd4 Be7 6. Bd3 d5
  2. −0.182. a3 Nc6 3. b5 Na5 4. e4 e6 5. d3 d5 6. Nd2 Nf6
  3. −0.212. c3 cxb4 3. cxb4 e5 4. Bb2 Bxb4 5. Bxe5 Nf6 6. Bc3 Bxc3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Polish Opening: Birmingham Gambit?
After 1. b4 c5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2. bxc5 for White, continuing e5 3. e3 Bxc5 4. d4 exd4 5. exd4 Be7 6. Bd3 d5. The position is roughly equal (+0.04). The next best moves are 2. a3 (−0.18) and 2. c3 (−0.21).
Is the Polish Opening: Birmingham Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.04: the position is roughly equal. 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 Polish Opening: Birmingham Gambit?
A00. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; A is the volume for flank openings.

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