Bishop's Opening: Stein Gambit
The Stein Gambit is 3.f4 after 2...Bc5, a King's Gambit idea with the bishops already on c4 and c5. It is dubious: White hopes for fxe5 and an open f-file, but Black's best reply, ...d5, strikes at once and leaves White's king and kingside loose.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.f4
- ECO
- C23
- Engine
- −0.74 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 157 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 48.7%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- After ...d5, Bxd5 and Qf3 keep material while hitting f7 and supporting the bishop.
- Against ...Nc6, Nf3 and fxe5 open the f-file in normal King's Gambit style.
- Watch the g1 knight: ...Bxg1 can come, and Rxg1 with Qh5 is the way to answer it.
Black
- ...d5 is the strongest reply, opening lines while White's king sits on the open a7-g1 diagonal.
- ...Bxg1 followed by ...Qe7 spoils White's castling; after Rxg1 the White king stays in the center.
- ...Nc6 and ...d6 is calmer and holds e5, leading to King's Gambit Declined ideas.
Plans and pawn structure
Black's bishop on c5 already stops White from castling short easily, so 3.f4 is risky. After ...d5 and ...Nf6, Black develops fast and plays against e4 and the White king. White must give back time or material to castle, usually with Qf3 and Nc3. In the ...Nc6 lines the game is a normal King's Gambit Declined where the f-file and the a7-g1 diagonal decide.
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:
- −0.74 3...d5 4.Bxd5 Nf6 5.Qf3 O-O 6.Nc3
- −0.62 3...Bxg1 4.Qh5 Qe7 5.Rxg1 Nc6 6.b3
- −0.17 3...Nc6 4.Nf3 d6 5.fxe5 dxe5 6.c3
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
157 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 48.7%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
As Black, answer 3.f4 with ...d5 and develop with ...Nf6 and short castling. Do not take the f4 pawn with ...exf4, which lets White play d4 with a big center and a tempo on the bishop.
Questions
What are the moves of the Bishop's Opening: Stein Gambit?
The Bishop's Opening: Stein Gambit starts 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.f4. Its ECO code is C23.
Is the Bishop's Opening: Stein Gambit good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.74 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. A dubious gambit for adventurous White players; Black who answers ...d5 gets a comfortable game with easy development.
What is the main idea of the Bishop's Opening: Stein Gambit?
White plays a King's Gambit with the bishops already developed, hoping to open the f-file. Black's best answer is ...d5, which opens the center while White's king is still exposed on the a7-g1 diagonal.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is d5, with Bxg1 and Nc6 close behind. 3...d5 strikes the center at once and uses White's loosened kingside, which is why Black stands better.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.