Chess Openings Lab
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King's Gambit Accepted: King's Knight's Gambit

The King's Knight's Gambit is 2...exf4 3.Nf3, the main way to continue after Black accepts. The knight stops ...Qh4+ and prepares d4 or Bc4; Black now chooses between holding the pawn with ...g5 or ...d6 and returning it with ...d5.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3
ECO
C34, C37, C39
Engine
−0.59 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
4,614 games in our lichess sample
White scores
58.3%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Build the center with d4, then aim to win back f4 with the c1 bishop.
  • Meet ...g5 with h4 or Nc3; the engine line uses Nc3 and d4 before attacking the chain.
  • Develop the f1 bishop to c4, aiming at f7 and supporting the e4 pawn.
  • If Black chases the knight with ...g4, be ready for Ng1 and a king walk after ...Qh4+.

Black

  • Hold the pawn with ...g5 or ...d6, then ...h6 and ...Bg7, which is the engine's preferred structure.
  • Return the pawn with ...d5 for free piece play and a quick ...Nf6.
  • ...Nc6 and ...Be7 are flexible choices: they develop first and keep ...Qh4+ ideas in reserve.
  • Do not rush ...g4 unless the queen check on h4 follows with real force.

Plans and pawn structure

This position is the crossroads of the accepted King's Gambit. If Black supports f4 with ...g5, White strikes with h4 and d4 and plays for development and open lines against f7. If Black hits back with ...d5, the game becomes more open and less forcing. In the engine's lines Black keeps the pawn and pushes ...g4, driving the knight back to g1, then checks on h4. White then has an awkward king on e2 but a big center with d4 and e4.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.59: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.59 3...g5 4.Nc3 d6 5.d4 g4 6.Ng1
  2. −0.56 3...d6 4.Bc4 h6 5.d4 g5 6.h4
  3. −0.53 3...h6 4.Nc3 d6 5.d4 g5 6.g3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

4,614 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 58.3%.

under 120060.1%
1200–159958.5%
1600–199958.3%
2000 and up50.0%

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

Where it goes next

How to play against it

As Black, pick one plan and know it: ...d6 with ...h6 and ...g5, or ...d5 to return the pawn. Avoid passive moves that neither keep f4 nor free your pieces. White scores well across rating bands here, so do not drift. Develop, keep f4 if you can, and watch f7.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files these lines under the same name, though they reach a different position: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5; 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4; 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4.

Questions

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

The King's Gambit Accepted: King's Knight's Gambit starts 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3. Its ECO code is C34, C37, C39.

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

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.59 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 4,614 lichess games from our sample, White scored 58.3%. The most natural King's Gambit for White, demanding sharp opening knowledge from both sides and a feel for open lines.

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

White develops the knight to stop ...Qh4+ and prepares d4 and Bc4. Black must decide whether to keep the f4 pawn with ...g5 or ...d6, or give it back with ...d5 for easy development.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is g5, with d6 and h6 close behind. 3...g5 supports f4 directly and prepares ...g4 to drive the knight from f3.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.