ECO C20 · Portuguese Opening

Portuguese Opening: Portuguese Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Bb5 Nf6 3. d4

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

3… exd4−0.24

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

Analyze this position

In the Portuguese Opening: Portuguese Gambit (C20), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Bb5 Nf6 3. d4, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… exd4 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.24).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.243… exd4 4. e5 Qe7 5. Nf3 Qb4+ 6. c3 Qxb5 7. exf6 Nc6 8. Nxd4
  2. −0.153… c6 4. dxe5 Nxe4 5. Bd3 Nc5 6. Nf3 d5 7. exd6 Qxd6 8. Be2
  3. −0.103… a6 4. dxe5 axb5 5. exf6 Qxf6 6. Nc3 c6 7. Nf3 d6 8. Nd4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Portuguese Opening: Portuguese Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Bb5 Nf6 3. d4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… exd4 for Black, continuing 4. e5 Qe7 5. Nf3 Qb4+ 6. c3 Qxb5 7. exf6 Nc6 8. Nxd4. The position is roughly equal (−0.24). The next best moves are 3… c6 (−0.15) and 3… a6 (−0.10).
Is the Portuguese Opening: Portuguese Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.24: 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 Portuguese Opening: Portuguese 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+).