ECO A00 · Van Geet Opening

Van Geet Opening: Dougherty Gambit

1. Nc3 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. f3

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

3… exf3−0.68

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Van Geet Opening: Dougherty Gambit (A00), reached after 1. Nc3 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. f3, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… exf3 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.68).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.683… exf3 4. Nxf3 Bf5 5. d4 e6 6. Bc4 Nf6 7. d5 Bc5 8. dxe6
  2. −0.483… e5 4. fxe4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bc5 6. Bc4 O-O 7. d3 Nc6 8. Bg5
  3. −0.473… Nf6 4. fxe4 e5 5. Nf3 Bc5 6. Bc4 O-O 7. d3 Nc6 8. Nd5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Van Geet Opening: Dougherty Gambit?
After 1. Nc3 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. f3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… exf3 for Black, continuing 4. Nxf3 Bf5 5. d4 e6 6. Bc4 Nf6 7. d5 Bc5 8. dxe6. Black is slightly better (−0.68). The next best moves are 3… e5 (−0.48) and 3… Nf6 (−0.47).
Is the Van Geet Opening: Dougherty Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.68: black is slightly 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 Van Geet Opening: Dougherty 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+).