Chess Openings Lab
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King's Gambit Accepted: Traditional Variation

The Traditional Variation is 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7, where Black puts the bishop behind the g5-f4 chain. White aims the c4 bishop at f7 and must choose between h4, d4, Nc3 or quick castling, while Black holds the extra pawn with ...h6, ...d6 and ...Nc6.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7
ECO
C38
Engine
−0.68 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
180 games in our lichess sample
White scores
43.6%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play h4 to hit g5. If Black answers ...h6, the chain holds but the h-file can open later.
  • Build the center with d4 and Nc3, then use Qd3 to connect pieces.
  • Castling with O-O is the Hanstein Gambit; it adds rook pressure on the f-file.
  • Keep the c4 bishop on the a2-g8 diagonal; it pins down the f7 pawn.

Black

  • Answer h4 with ...h6, keeping the g5 pawn and with it the f4 pawn.
  • Play ...d6 and ...Nc6 to cover e5, free the c8 bishop and pressure d4.
  • Pin the f3 knight with ...Bg4 once White's queen leaves d1 for d3.
  • The g7 bishop hits d4 and b2, so keep the long diagonal open.

Plans and pawn structure

Black's pawn wall on f4 and g5 keeps White's kingside pieces passive. All three engine lines lead to the same setup: White has h4, d4, Nc3 and Qd3, while Black has ...h6, ...d6, ...Nc6 and ...Bg4. Black is more comfortable because the extra pawn is safe and the g7 bishop is strong. White's chances come from opening the h-file, castling long after Qd3, or a timely piece sacrifice on g5 or f4.

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 White:

  1. −0.68 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.d4 d6 7.h4 h6
  2. −0.68 5.h4 h6 6.d4 d6 7.Qd3 Nc6
  3. −0.68 5.d4 Nc6 6.Nc3 d6 7.h4 h6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

180 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 43.6%.

1600–199945.0%
2000 and up38.9%

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

Where it goes next

  • Hanstein Gambit5.O-O · 183 games
  • Greco Gambit5.h4 · rare
  • Mayet Gambit5.d4 · rare

How to play against it

As White, do not wait. Play h4, d4 and Nc3 and get the pieces out before Black consolidates. Avoid trading the c4 bishop, which is your main attacker. Keep an eye on ...Bg4 pinning the f3 knight once your queen moves.

Questions

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

The King's Gambit Accepted: Traditional Variation starts 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7. Its ECO code is C38.

Is the King's Gambit Accepted: Traditional Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.68 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. A solid defense for Black that suits patient players; White needs energy and accurate move order.

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

Black builds a g5-f4 chain behind a bishop on g7 and keeps the extra pawn. White uses h4, d4 and Nc3 to open lines, but must act before Black finishes ...h6, ...d6 and ...Nc6.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Nc3, with h4 and d4 close behind. 5.Nc3 develops and supports e4, keeping options of d4 and h4 for later.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.