Bishop's Opening: Khan Gambit
The Khan Gambit is 2...d5, giving up the d-pawn to free Black's pieces at once. White should take with exd5 and keep the extra pawn, while Black uses ...c6, ...Nc6 and ...Bc5 for development and open lines.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 d5
- ECO
- C23
- Engine
- +0.93 · a clear edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 931 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 59.3%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Take with exd5. After ...c6, dxc6 and calm development with d3, Nc3 and Nf3 keep a clean extra pawn.
- Bxd5 is also fine: after ...Nf6 and Nc3, the trade on d5 leaves White a pawn on d5 in front of Black's pieces.
- Do not retreat with Bd3: after ...dxe4 the bishop is a target and Black wins material, as the third engine line shows.
Black
- ...c6 is the gambit follow-up: Black wants ...cxd5 or a lead in development after dxc6.
- ...Nf6 hits e4 and d5, and ...Bc5 lines up against f2 once White's bishop is busy.
- After ...Nxc6, Black's knights and bishops come out fast, which is the whole point of the sacrifice.
Plans and pawn structure
If White keeps the pawn, Black's compensation is development: knights on c6 and f6, a bishop on c5, and the open d-file for the queen and rooks. White should finish with d3, Nc3, Nf3 and castle, then trade pieces to make the extra pawn count. Black should look for ...e4 pushes and ...Bg4 pins to keep White busy. If White coordinates, the extra pawn tells in the endgame.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.93: a clear edge for White. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.93 3.exd5 c6 4.dxc6 Nxc6 5.d3 Nf6
- +0.44 3.Bxd5 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nxd5 5.exd5 Bd6
- −1.26 3.Bd3 dxe4 4.Bxe4 Nf6 5.d3 Nxe4
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
931 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 59.3%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
As White, take on d5 with the pawn or the bishop, then develop. The one thing to avoid is a retreat that leaves e4 hanging. Do not chase more pawns with the queen early; castle and keep the pawn.
Questions
What are the moves of the Bishop's Opening: Khan Gambit?
The Bishop's Opening: Khan Gambit starts 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 d5. Its ECO code is C23.
Is the Bishop's Opening: Khan Gambit good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.93 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for White. In 931 lichess games from our sample, White scored 59.3%. A playable surprise at lower levels, but White who takes and develops calmly keeps a healthy extra pawn.
What is the main idea of the Bishop's Opening: Khan Gambit?
Black gives the d-pawn to open lines and develop quickly. White takes with exd5, keeps the pawn with dxc6 and calm development, and aims to trade pieces.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is exd5, with Bxd5 and Bd3 close behind. 3.exd5 grabs the pawn and keeps White's bishop on c4, aimed at f7.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.