King's Gambit
The King's Gambit starts 1.e4 e5 2.f4, where White offers the f-pawn to deflect Black's e5 pawn and open the f-file. White wants a big center with d4 and a fast attack on f7, while Black can grab the pawn and hold it with ...g5, or return it for quick development.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.f4
- ECO
- C30
- Engine
- −0.59 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 8,536 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 55.1%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- After ...exf4, play Nf3 and d4 to build a full pawn center, then recover f4 with Bxf4 when possible.
- Use Bc4 and the open f-file to aim at f7, often with O-O and a rook on f1.
- Against ...g5, break the pawn chain with h4 or attack it with Nc3 and d4 before Black consolidates.
- Meet the Falkbeer, ...d5, with exd5 and quick development rather than holding every pawn.
Black
- Take with ...exf4 and defend the pawn with ...g5, as in the engine line, gaining space on the kingside.
- Return the pawn with ...d5 at the right moment for free development and a safer king.
- Strike back in the center with the Falkbeer, ...d5, or the Modern Defense after Nf3.
- Use ...Bc5 against the declined lines to stop White's king from castling short.
Plans and pawn structure
After ...exf4 and Nf3, White's plan is d4, Bc4 or Bd3, and O-O, then recovering f4 and pressing on the f-file against f7. Black keeps the extra pawn with ...g5 and ...d6, or gives it back with ...d5 for safe development. In the declined lines with ...Bc5, the game is closer to a normal open game: White plays Nf3, c3 and d4, while Black uses the a7-g1 diagonal to stop short castling.
What the King's Gambit is about
After 1.e4 e5 2.f4 White offers a pawn on move two. The point is to remove Black's e5 pawn, open the f-file toward f7 and build a full center with d4. It is the most famous of the old attacking openings, and it leads to sharp, open games.
The engine does not like it for White. Its first choice is 2...exf4, and the main line 3.Nf3 g5 4.Nc3 d6 5.d4 g4 6.Bxf4 shows Black gaining space and keeping chances for an edge. The declined lines with 2...d5 and 2...Bc5 are close to level. Still, from this position White scored 55.1% across 8536 games, because the defense is hard to play at club level.
So the King's Gambit is objectively a bit dubious, but practically dangerous. Both sides need to know what they are doing.
The main variations
The King's Gambit Accepted, 2...exf4, is by far the most played line, with 32232 games. Most games continue with the King's Knight's Gambit, 3.Nf3, which stops ...Qh4+ and prepares d4.
From there Black has several defenses. The Fischer Defense, 3...d6, prepares ...g5 while keeping the e5 square under control. The Modern Defense, 3...d5, returns the pawn for quick development. The MacLeod Defense, 3...Nc6, is the most played Black reply after 3.Nf3 and keeps things flexible.
The Queen's Knight Defense, 2...Nc6, declines the gambit and keeps the center. The Falkbeer Countergambit, 2...d5, hits back with a pawn; White scored only 47.1% there. The Classical Variation, 2...Bc5, aims the bishop at g1 so that White cannot castle short easily.
The Bishop's Gambit, 3.Bc4, allows ...Qh4+ and moves the king, and the engine likes Black more there.
Typical plans for White
White's plan is to use time and open lines. After 3.Nf3 White plays d4, then Bc4 or Bd3, and O-O. The f4 pawn is often won back with Bxf4 or attacked with h4 and g3. White's rook on f1 and bishop on c4 aim at f7.
- Against ...g5, the h4 push hits the pawn chain and can open the h-file.
- Nc3 and d4 build the center fast, as in the engine line.
- In the declined lines, c3 and d4 fight the bishop on c5, and fxe5 opens the f-file.
White must keep the initiative. If Black consolidates the extra pawn and castles, White's weakened king position becomes a real problem.
Typical plans for Black
Black has two clear plans. The first is to keep the pawn with ...g5, ...d6 and ...Bg7, gaining kingside space and making Bxf4 hard. The second is to return the pawn with ...d5, develop with ...Nf6, ...Bd6 and ...O-O, and play against White's loose king.
- Against the Bishop's Gambit, ...Qh4+ forces the king to f1, so White cannot castle.
- In the declined lines, the bishop on c5 is Black's key piece. It stops White from castling short and supports ...d6 and ...Nf6.
- In the Falkbeer, ...e4 after exd5 cramps White and gives Black good play.
Mistakes club players make
- White taking on e5 too soon in the declined lines. The King's Gambit ...Bc5 Qh4+ trap shows why: after 2...Bc5 3.fxe5 Qh4+ 4.g3 Qxe4+ Black wins the rook on h1.
- Black grabbing more pawns. Taking on f4 is fine; going after more material while the king sits on e8 is how Black loses.
- White forgetting about ...Qh4+. Without Nf3, the queen check on h4 can be very unpleasant.
- Black playing passively. If Black never counters in the center, White's attack on f7 builds quickly.
- White castling into the bishop. With Black's bishop on c5, short castling walks into a pin on the a7-g1 diagonal.
Who should play it
The King's Gambit suits White players who love attacking chess and accept some objective risk. It rewards preparation and fast play more than deep positional understanding, and it scores well at club level.
For Black, the best answer is to know one sound line, such as 2...exf4 3.Nf3 d6 or the Modern Defense with 3...d5, and to avoid greed. Calm defense and quick development are the best ways to meet it.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.59: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:
- −0.59 2...exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Nc3 d6 5.d4
- −0.16 2...d5 3.exd5 exf4 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.c4
- −0.01 2...Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.c3 Nf6 5.fxe5
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
8,536 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 55.1%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Traps and pitfalls
King's Gambit ...Bc5 Qh4+ trap (Black sets it)
In the King's Gambit Declined with 2...Bc5, White takes on e5 too early. The queen checks on h4, and after 4.g3 Qxe4+ the queen forks the king and the rook on h1.
Variations of the King's Gambit
- King's Gambit Accepted2...exf4 · 32,232 games
- Queen's Knight Defense2...Nc6 · 10,717 games
- Falkbeer Countergambit2...d5 · 4,175 games
- Classical Variation2...Bc5 · 1,784 games
- Petrov's Defense2...Nf6 · 849 games
- Keene's Defense2...Qh4+ · 541 games
- Norwalde Variation2...Qf6 · 413 games
- Panteldakis Countergambit2...f5 · 322 games
- Zilbermints Double Countergambit2...g5 · rare
- Classical, Réti Variation2...Bc5 · rare
- Falkbeer Countergambit, Alapin Variation2...d5 · rare
- Double Muzio Gambit, Paulsen Defense2...exf4 · rare
- Panteldakis Countergambit, Symmetrical Variation2...f5 · rare
- Soller-Zilbermints Gambit2...f6 · rare
How to play against it
As Black, 2...exf4 is the engine's choice: after 3.Nf3 play ...g5 or ...d6 and keep the pawn, or give it back with ...d5 when it helps development. If you prefer to decline, 2...Bc5 is solid. Avoid lines where your king stays on e8 while White opens the f-file.
Full guide: how to beat the King's Gambit
Questions
What are the moves of the King's Gambit?
The King's Gambit starts 1.e4 e5 2.f4. Its ECO code is C30.
Is the King's Gambit good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.59 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 8,536 lichess games from our sample, White scored 55.1%. Fun and dangerous at club level, but White must accept a slightly worse position against accurate defense.
What is the main idea of the King's Gambit?
White gives up the f-pawn to remove Black's e5 pawn, open the f-file and build a center with d4. Black can keep the pawn with ...g5 or return it with ...d5 for safe, quick development.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is exf4, with d5 and Bc5 close behind. 2...exf4 takes the pawn, and the follow-up ...g5 holds it while gaining space, which is why the engine prefers Black.
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.