Chess Openings Lab
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King's Gambit Accepted: Villemson Gambit

The Villemson Gambit is 2...exf4 3.d4, where White grabs the center but allows a queen check on h4. Black can check and force White's king to move, then hit the center with ...d5, while White hopes the big center and Nf3 outweigh the lost castling rights.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.d4
ECO
C33
Engine
−0.84 · a clear edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
706 games in our lichess sample
White scores
50.8%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After ...Qh4+, the engine steps the king to e2 or d2 and accepts a king in the center.
  • Develop Nf3 with tempo on the queen, then win back the f4 pawn with the c1 bishop.
  • Use c4 and Nc3 to support d4 and gain space while Black's queen is out of play.
  • Avoid opening lines toward your own king before the knights and bishops are out.

Black

  • 3...Qh4+ is the engine's choice: the check forces White's king to move and lose castling.
  • Follow with ...d5, then use ...Bg4+ to develop with check against the king on e2.
  • Develop the knight to d7 or f6 and keep the f4 pawn until White wins it back.
  • ...Bb4+ is another way to disturb the king before the queen check.

Plans and pawn structure

White's king stays in the center, so the game is about whether White can finish development before Black's pieces arrive. White wants Nf3, Bxf4, c4 and Nc3, then walk the king to safety. Black wants checks and open lines: ...Qh4+, ...d5, ...Bg4+ and quick development. The pawn structure after ...d5 and exd5 leaves White with a d-pawn and no e-pawn, so the e-file becomes Black's main route to the king.

Where the engine's main line heads: White pawn d4, no e-pawns for White, no d-pawn for Black. White has a pawn on d4 and no e-pawn; Black has no d-pawn. White has more central space; Black's pieces are free and the d4 pawn is a target.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.84: a clear edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.84 3...Qh4+ 4.Ke2 d5 5.exd5 Bg4+ 6.Nf3
  2. −0.77 3...d5 4.exd5 Qh4+ 5.Kd2 Qd8 6.c4
  3. −0.60 3...Bb4+ 4.c3 Qh4+ 5.Kd2 Be7 6.Nf3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

706 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.8%.

under 120056.4%
1200–159952.8%
1600–199943.4%

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

How to play against it

As Black, check on h4 right away and follow with ...d5. Do not hurry to retreat the queen if it is not attacked. Develop with tempo against the king, and open the e-file. A queen trade is fine for you if the king on e2 or d2 stays awkward.

Questions

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

The King's Gambit Accepted: Villemson Gambit starts 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.d4. Its ECO code is C33.

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

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.84 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for Black. In 706 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.8%. A dubious try for White that suits risk-takers; Black gets easy play by checking on h4 and hitting the center.

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

White plays d4 instead of Nf3, accepting a king walk after ...Qh4+. Black checks, strikes with ...d5 and uses development with tempo against the uncastled king.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Qh4+, with d5 and Bb4+ close behind. 3...Qh4+ uses the open h4-e1 diagonal and forces White's king to give up castling.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.