Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. f4/2...d5/3. exd5

Falkbeer Countergambit
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/8/3Pp3/5P2/8/PPPP2PP/RNBQKBNR

Falkbeer Countergambit

3.exd5

This is the normal response, capturing the pawn on d5, as black is putting pressure on both the e4 and f4 pawns of white's and 3. fxe5?? loses to Qh4+!. From here, black has 3 choices:

• 3... exf4 is the natural response, where a sample line continues 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 exf4 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. c4 c6 6. d4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Be2 cxd5 9. O-O Be6 10. Bxf4 dxc4 11. Ng5 Nc6 12. Nxe6 fxe6 13. Bxc4 Qxd4+ 14. Qxd4 Nxd4 15. Rad1 b5 16. Rxd4 bxc4 17. Rxc4, which is equal. There are mutliple ways to diverge from these lines, but all usually lead to equality.
• 3... c6!? is a new, modern response that focuses on development and the cramping f4 pawn over material. No clear verdict has been reached on this line.
• 3... e4 used to be considered an option, but now, modern theory gives white a good game after 4. d3, and the line is a very rare sideline these days.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables see theory table and for notation see algebraic notation.

1. e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5

	3	4	5	6
	... e4	d3 Nf6	dxe4 Nxe4	Nf3 Bc5	+=
	... c6	Nc3 exf4	Nf3 Bd6	Bc4 Ne7	=
	... exf4	Nf3 Nf6	c4 c6	d4 Bb4+	Nc3 O-O	Be2 cxd5	O-O Be6	Bxf4 dxc4	Ng5 Nc6	Nxe6 fxe6	Bxc4 Qxd4+	Qxd4 Nxd4	Rad1 b5	Rxd4 bxc4	Rxc4 a5	=

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References

• Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.