ECO C44 · Ponziani Opening

Ponziani Opening: Ponziani Countergambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 f5

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

4. d4+0.28

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

Analyze this position

In the Ponziani Opening: Ponziani Countergambit (C44), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 f5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. d4 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.28).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.284. d4 fxe4 5. Nxe5 Qf6 6. Qc2 d5 7. Bb5 Ne7 8. c4 Nf5
  2. +0.224. exf5 Qf6 5. d4 e4 6. Ng5 d5 7. c4 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 Nge7
  3. +0.074. d3 d5 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Nbd2 Be7 7. Be2 Bd7 8. O-O O-O-O

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ponziani Opening: Ponziani Countergambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 f5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. d4 for White, continuing fxe4 5. Nxe5 Qf6 6. Qc2 d5 7. Bb5 Ne7 8. c4 Nf5. The position is roughly equal (+0.28). The next best moves are 4. exf5 (+0.22) and 4. d3 (+0.07).
Is the Ponziani Opening: Ponziani Countergambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.28: 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 Ponziani Opening: Ponziani Countergambit?
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+).