Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. f4/2...exf4/3. Nf3/3...Be7

King's Gambit, Cunningham-Euwe Variation
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqk1nr/ppppbppp/8/8/4Pp2/5N2/PPPP2PP/RNBQKB1R

Cunningham-Euwe Variation

While White's 3.Nf3 prevented the check on h4, Black's third move renews the threat and develops. Here White doesn't have a promising way to stop the check on h4, as 4.g3?! fxg3 5.hxg3 Nf6 saddles White with a weak isolated pawn on g3, and the semi-open h-file cannot be effectively used. If he tries h4?! Nf6, he creates all sorts of weaknesses down the g-file, and further delays his development. He has two main continuations: 4.Bc4 and 4.Nc3, while d4!?, gaining central space, freeing d2 for the king, and preparing to round up f4 with Bxf4, may be playable as well. 4.Bc4 is the main line, clearing f1 for the White king to move to and eyeing a possible attack on f7. 4.Nc3, however, is also good, with simple development.

Theory table

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

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Be7

	4	5	6	7
	Bc4 Nf6	e5 Ng4	O-O Nc6	d4 d5	=
	Nc3 Bh4+	Ke2 d5	Nxd5 Nf6	Nxf6+ Qxf6	∞

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References

de Firmian, Nick. Modern Chess Openings, 15th edition. New York, NY: Random House, 2008.