The Allgaier, Cook Variation is a variation of the King's Gambit Accepted, catalogued as ECO C39. The line runs 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ng5 h6 6. Nxf7 Kxf7 7. d4 d5 8. Bxf4 dxe4 9. Bc4+ Kg7 10. Be5+, reaching the position shown below after 19 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4, Black on e4). White is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to Black's zero, and Black is up three points of material. It is Black to move after ten moves. Black’s e-file pawn is isolated; the f-file file is fully open.
On the King's Gambit Accepted generally: A romantic opening where White sacrifices a pawn for rapid development and attacking chances.
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The Allgaier, Cook Variation goes 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ng5 h6 6. Nxf7 Kxf7 7. d4 d5 8. Bxf4 dxe4 9. Bc4+ Kg7 10. Be5+. It is a variation of the King's Gambit Accepted and is catalogued as ECO C39.
The Allgaier, Cook Variation is ECO C39. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the King's Gambit Accepted.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ng5 h6 6. Nxf7 Kxf7 7. d4 d5 8. Bxf4 dxe4 9. Bc4+ Kg7 10. Be5+ at -1.46 at depth 18, which is a small but real edge for Black. 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.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4, Black on e4). White is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to Black's zero, and Black is up three points of material. It is Black to move. Black’s e-file pawn is isolated; the f-file file is fully open.