ECO C20 · Portuguese Opening

Portuguese Opening: Miguel Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Bb5 Bc5 3. b4

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

3… Bxb4−0.92

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Portuguese Opening: Miguel Gambit (C20), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Bb5 Bc5 3. b4, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… Bxb4 for Black. Black is clearly better (−0.92).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.923… Bxb4 4. c3 Ba5 5. Qh5 Qf6 6. Nf3 a6 7. Ba4 b5 8. Bb3
  2. −0.383… Bb6 4. Qh5 Qe7 5. Bb2 Nf6 6. Qxe5 Qxe5 7. Bxe5 Nxe4 8. Nc3
  3. −0.363… Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Nxe5 O-O 6. O-O Nxe4 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Rb1

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Portuguese Opening: Miguel Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Bb5 Bc5 3. b4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… Bxb4 for Black, continuing 4. c3 Ba5 5. Qh5 Qf6 6. Nf3 a6 7. Ba4 b5 8. Bb3. Black is clearly better (−0.92). The next best moves are 3… Bb6 (−0.38) and 3… Be7 (−0.36).
Is the Portuguese Opening: Miguel Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.92: 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 Portuguese Opening: Miguel 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+).