The Allgaier, Horny Defense 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. Qxg4 Nf6 8. Qxf4 Bd6, reaching the position shown below after 16 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on e4. Development is level at one minor pieces each, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is White to move after eight moves. Black’s h-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.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
See all 80 King's Gambit Accepted variations →
The Allgaier, Horny Defense goes 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ng5 h6 6. Nxf7 Kxf7 7. Qxg4 Nf6 8. Qxf4 Bd6. It is a variation of the King's Gambit Accepted and is catalogued as ECO C39.
The Allgaier, Horny Defense 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. Qxg4 Nf6 8. Qxf4 Bd6 at -1.58 at depth 18, which is a clear advantage 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.
White holds the centre with pawns on e4. Development is level at one minor pieces each, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is White to move. Black’s h-file pawn is isolated; the f-file file is fully open.