Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. f4/2...d5/3. exd5

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Falkbeer Countergambit
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 8
7 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 7
6 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 6
5 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 5
4 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 4
3 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 3
2 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 2
1 a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5

Falkbeer Countergambit[edit | edit source]

3.exd5[edit | edit source]

This is the normal response, capturing the pawn on d5, as black is putting pressure on both the e4 and f4 pawns of white's and 3. fxe5?? loses to Qh4+!. From here, black has 3 choices:

  • 3... exf4 is the natural response, where a sample line continues 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 exf4 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. c4 c6 6. d4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Be2 cxd5 9. O-O Be6 10. Bxf4 dxc4 11. Ng5 Nc6 12. Nxe6 fxe6 13. Bxc4 Qxd4+ 14. Qxd4 Nxd4 15. Rad1 b5 16. Rxd4 bxc4 17. Rxc4, which is equal. There are mutliple ways to diverge from these lines, but all usually lead to equality.
  • 3... c6!? is a new, modern response that focuses on development and the cramping f4 pawn over material. No clear verdict has been reached on this line.
  • 3... e4 used to be considered an option, but now, modern theory gives white a good game after 4. d3, and the line is a very rare sideline these days.

Theory table[edit | edit source]

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1. e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5

3 4 5 6
...
e4
d3
Nf6
dxe4
Nxe4
Nf3
Bc5
+=
...
c6
Nc3
exf4
Nf3
Bd6
Bc4
Ne7
=
...
exf4
Nf3
Nf6
c4
c6
d4
Bb4+
Nc3
O-O
Be2
cxd5
O-O
Be6
Bxf4
dxc4
Ng5
Nc6
Nxe6
fxe6
Bxc4
Qxd4+
Qxd4
Nxd4
Rad1
b5
Rxd4
bxc4
Rxc4
a5
=

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References[edit | edit source]

  • Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.