Chess Openings Lab
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit

The Bishop's Gambit is 2...exf4 3.Bc4, where White develops the bishop before the knight and allows ...Qh4+. White accepts losing castling rights for speed and a strong center, while Black uses the check and ...d5 to return the pawn and free the pieces.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4
ECO
C33
Engine
−0.74 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,883 games in our lichess sample
White scores
53.6%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After ...Qh4+, step to Kf1 and then play Nf3 with tempo on the queen.
  • Build the center with d4 and Nc3, then win back f4 with Bxf4.
  • Use the c4 bishop to target f7 and the light squares around Black's king.
  • After ...d5, take with the bishop on d5 and keep it centralized.

Black

  • Check with ...Qh4+ to force Kf1 and take away White's castling rights.
  • Play ...d5 to open lines and give the pawn back for activity.
  • Develop with ...Nc6 and ...Bg4 to pressure d4 and the f3 knight.
  • Keep ...g5 in mind to protect f4 when White attacks it with Bxf4 ideas.

Plans and pawn structure

White's king goes to f1 after ...Qh4+, but Nf3 comes with tempo and the center is strong. Black returns the pawn with ...d5 or develops with ...Nc6 and ...Bg4 to hit d4. White plans d4, Nc3 and Bxf4, then a rook lift via h1. Black aims for ...Ne7 and quick castling, using the lead in development against White's loose king.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.74: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.74 3...Nc6 4.d4 Qh4+ 5.Kf1 d6 6.Nf3
  2. −0.61 3...d5 4.Bxd5 Qh4+ 5.Kf1 Ne7 6.Nf3
  3. −0.46 3...Qh4+ 4.Kf1 d5 5.Bxd5 Ne7 6.Nf3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,883 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.6%.

under 120056.8%
1200–159953.8%
1600–199953.5%
2000 and up52.1%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Bishop's Gambit, Maurian Defense3...Nc6 · 559 games
  • Bishop's Gambit, Anderssen Defense3...g5 · rare
  • Bishop's Gambit, Boren-Svenonius Variation3...d5 · rare
  • Bishop's Gambit, Paulsen Attack3...Nf6 · rare
  • Lopez-Gianutio Countergambit, Hein Variation3...f5 · rare
  • Bishop's Gambit, Kieseritzky Gambit3...b5 · rare
  • Bishop's Gambit, Lopez Defense3...c6 · rare

How to play against it

As Black, use ...Qh4+ to stop White from castling, then develop fast with ...Nc6 or ...d5. Don't hold on to f4 at all costs; giving it back for time is often best. If White plays d4, hit it with ...Nc6 and ...Bg4, and bring the queen back before Nf3 traps it.

Questions

What are the moves of the King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit?

The King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit starts 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4. Its ECO code is C33.

Is the King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.74 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 1,883 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.6%. An old-school gambit for daring White players; Black has good chances with ...Nc6 or ...d5.

What is the main idea of the King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit?

White develops the bishop first and lets Black check on h4. After Kf1 White builds a center with d4 and Nf3, and Black returns the pawn with ...d5 for activity.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Nc6, with d5 and Qh4+ close behind. 3...Nc6 develops and eyes d4, preparing ...Qh4+ to keep White's king in the center.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.