The Four Pawns Gambit is a variation of the Bishop's Opening, catalogued as ECO C23. The line runs 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. b4 Bxb4 4. f4 exf4 5. Nf3 Be7 6. d4 Bh4+ 7. g3 fxg3 8. O-O gxh2+ 9. Kh1, reaching the position shown below after 17 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e4. Development is level at two minor pieces each, and Black is up four points of material. It is Black to move after nine moves. Black has doubled pawns on the h-file; White’s a-file pawn is isolated.
On the Bishop's Opening generally: White develops the bishop early to c4, targeting f7. Can lead to sharp or quiet positions.
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The Four Pawns Gambit goes 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. b4 Bxb4 4. f4 exf4 5. Nf3 Be7 6. d4 Bh4+ 7. g3 fxg3 8. O-O gxh2+ 9. Kh1. It is a variation of the Bishop's Opening and is catalogued as ECO C23.
The Four Pawns Gambit is ECO C23. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Bishop's Opening.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. b4 Bxb4 4. f4 exf4 5. Nf3 Be7 6. d4 Bh4+ 7. g3 fxg3 8. O-O gxh2+ 9. Kh1 at +0.93 at depth 18, which is a small but real edge for White. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e4. Development is level at two minor pieces each, and Black is up four points of material. It is Black to move. Black has doubled pawns on the h-file; White’s a-file pawn is isolated.