King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Staunton Line
The Staunton Line is 2...d5 3.exd5 e4, where Black gives a pawn and drives a wedge into e4. Black wants to cramp White, take f3 from the knight and win back d5 later, while White tries to break the wedge with d3 and keep the extra pawn.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4
- ECO
- C31
- Engine
- +0.43 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 970 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 48.6%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- 4.d3 is the engine's choice: it challenges the e4 pawn at once.
- After ...Nf6, take with dxe4 and follow with Nf3 and Qe2 to pin the e4 knight.
- 4.Bc4 and 4.a3 are quieter moves that keep d5 protected for now.
- Use Bb5+ to disturb Black's development before the center settles and ...c6 arrives.
Black
- Develop ...Nf6 to support e4 and to recapture on e4 after dxe4.
- Play ...c6 to win back the d5 pawn and open lines for the pieces.
- Use ...Bc5 to hit g1 and stop White from castling short in comfort.
- Keep the e4 pawn alive as long as possible; it cramps White's queenside pieces.
Plans and pawn structure
Black's e4 pawn is the main feature. If White breaks it with d3 and dxe4, the game opens and White's extra pawn on d5 becomes a target after ...c6. If White leaves e4 alone, Black gets more space and attacks with ...Bc5, ...Nf6 and short castling. White's pieces need Nf3, Qe2 and short castling. After the pawns trade, Black's lead in development is the compensation for the pawn.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.43: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.43 4.d3 Nf6 5.dxe4 Nxe4 6.Nf3 c6
- −0.10 4.a3 Nf6 5.d3 Bc5 6.d4 Be7
- −0.15 4.Bc4 c6 5.d3 cxd5 6.Bb3 Bf5
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
970 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 48.6%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Falkbeer Countergambit, Anderssen Attack4.Bb5+ · rare
- Falkbeer Countergambit, Alapin Variation4.d3 · rare
- Falkbeer Countergambit, Rubinstein Variation4.Nc3 · rare
How to play against it
As White, play 4.d3 and open the center before Black finishes development. Keep the queen ready for Qe2 to pin on the e-file. Do not cling to d5 if it slows your king's safety, and watch the ...Bc5 diagonal toward g1.
Questions
What are the moves of the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Staunton Line?
The King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Staunton Line starts 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4. Its ECO code is C31.
Is the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Staunton Line good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.43 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 970 lichess games from our sample, White scored 48.6%. A dynamic way to play the Falkbeer for Black players who like space and development over material.
What is the main idea of the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Staunton Line?
Black gives a pawn and plants a pawn on e4 to cramp White. After 4.d3, the center opens and Black uses ...Nf6, ...c6 and quick development to win back d5.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is d3, with a3 and Bc4 close behind. 4.d3 attacks the e4 pawn directly, the cleanest way to break Black's wedge.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.