Chess Openings Lab
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King's Gambit Accepted: Rosentreter Gambit

The Rosentreter Gambit is 3.Nf3 g5 4.d4, where White ignores the threat of ...g4 and builds the center first. If Black kicks the knight, White can leave it to be taken or move it to e5, betting on central pawns and open lines against Black's king.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.d4
ECO
C37
Engine
−0.68 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
502 games in our lichess sample
White scores
51.0%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Answer 4...g4 with 5.Ne5, the engine's way, putting the knight on a central square.
  • After ...Qh4+, block with 6.g3 and fight for the g4 pawn with the queen.
  • If Black plays ...Bg7, use h4 to break the g5 chain before Black adds ...h6.
  • Develop with Nc3 and Bc4 so the d4 pawn and the f7 square stay under watch.

Black

  • 4...g4 is the engine's choice, hitting the f3 knight at once before White can castle.
  • After 5.Ne5, check with ...Qh4+ and take on g3, steering into an endgame where Black keeps an edge.
  • Quieter is ...d6 or ...Bg7, keeping the pawn and hitting the d4 pawn with the bishop.
  • Do not take on f3 if it opens the f-file toward your king without a clear gain.

Plans and pawn structure

White's pawn on d4 gives a big center, but the f3 knight is loose. After 4...g4 5.Ne5 Qh4+ 6.g3, the position turns tactical and the engine line trades queens with 8.Nxg4, reaching an endgame where Black's pieces are slightly better. In quieter lines with ...Bg7 and ...d6, the game looks like other ...g5 systems: White plays h4, Nc3 and Bc4, while Black keeps the chain with ...h6 and ...Nc6.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.68: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.68 4...g4 5.Ne5 Qh4+ 6.g3 fxg3 7.Qxg4
  2. −0.60 4...d6 5.Nc3 g4 6.Ng1 Qh4+ 7.Ke2
  3. −0.59 4...Bg7 5.h4 h6 6.Nc3 d6 7.Bc4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

502 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.0%.

1200–159952.8%
1600–199950.3%
2000 and up36.1%

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

Where it goes next

  • Rosentreter Gambit, Bird Gambit4...g4 · rare

How to play against it

As Black, play 4...g4 and check on h4 after 5.Ne5. Do not grab the f3 knight blindly when White can recapture with a strong attack. Know the queen-trade line: it leads to a calm endgame with a small Black edge, which suits most club players.

Questions

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

The King's Gambit Accepted: Rosentreter Gambit starts 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.d4. Its ECO code is C37.

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

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.68 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 502 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.0%. A rare and risky try for White players who want unfamiliar territory; Black does well by kicking the knight and checking.

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

White plays d4 before worrying about ...g4, aiming for a strong center. Black kicks the knight with ...g4 and checks on h4, reaching a position where White must play exactly.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is g4, with d6 and Bg7 close behind. 4...g4 attacks the f3 knight right away, forcing White to commit before d4 pays off.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.