Ponziani Opening: Ponziani Countergambit
The Ponziani Countergambit is 3...f5, striking at e4 with the f-pawn instead of developing a piece. White wants to open the position and expose Black's king with exf5 or d4, while Black aims for ...Qf6 and ...e4 to gain space and tempo.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 f5
- ECO
- C44
- Engine
- +0.31 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 490 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 46.3%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Take with 4.exf5, the engine's top line, then 5.d4 to challenge e5 and open lines.
- After ...e4 the knight retreats with Nfd2 and f3 hits the pawn chain right away.
- The 4.d4 Schmidt Attack line goes 4...fxe4 5.Nxe5, with Qh5+ ideas against the loose king.
- Keep the queen check on h5 in mind whenever Black's g6 square is uncovered.
Black
- Answer exf5 with ...Qf6, guarding e5 and preparing ...Qxf5 to regain the pawn.
- Push ...e4 to kick the f3 knight away from the center and gain kingside space.
- Strike with ...d5 once the queen sits on f6 or f7, claiming the center.
- Keep an eye on h5: a queen check there can catch a careless king on e8.
Plans and pawn structure
The f5 push makes the game sharp from move three. In the top line 4.exf5 Qf6 5.d4 e4 6.Nfd2 Qxf5 7.f3 d5, Black regains the pawn and has a big center, but White's f3 lever and lead in development make the e4 pawn a target. In the 4.d4 line, White hits e5 and uses Qh5+ ideas against the weakened e8-h5 diagonal. Black needs fast development and care with the king; White wants open files and quick pressure on e4.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.31: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.31 4.exf5 Qf6 5.d4 e4 6.Nfd2 Qxf5
- +0.22 4.d4 fxe4 5.Nxe5 Qf6 6.Nc4 d5
- −0.10 4.d3 Be7 5.Nbd2 Nf6 6.Nc4 d6
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
490 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 46.3%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Ponziani Countergambit, Schmidt Attack4.d4 · rare
How to play against it
As White, take with 4.exf5 and follow with d4. Answer ...e4 with Nfd2 and f3 to break up Black's center. Avoid slow moves like d3, which let Black finish development and take the initiative. As Black, develop the queen to f6 and regain f5 before chasing anything else.
Questions
What are the moves of the Ponziani Opening: Ponziani Countergambit?
The Ponziani Opening: Ponziani Countergambit starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 f5. Its ECO code is C44.
Is the Ponziani Opening: Ponziani Countergambit good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.31 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 490 lichess games from our sample, White scored 46.3%. A fighting reply for aggressive Black players who accept some king risk, while White needs to react with central action rather than slow development.
What is the main idea of the Ponziani Opening: Ponziani Countergambit?
Black meets the slow c3 with ...f5, hoping to seize the initiative. White opens the game with exf5 and d4, and Black aims for ...Qf6, ...e4 and ...d5 to build a big center.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is exf5, with d4 and d3 close behind. 4.exf5 takes the pawn and prepares d4, forcing Black to spend time regaining it.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.