The Greco Gambit is a variation of the King's Gambit Accepted, catalogued as ECO C38. The line runs 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 Bg7 5. h4 h6 6. d4 d6 7. Nc3 c6 8. hxg5 hxg5 9. Rxh8 Bxh8 10. Ne5, reaching the position shown below after 19 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e4. White is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to Black's one, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move after ten moves. Black has doubled pawns on the f-file; White’s g-file pawn is isolated; the h-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 Greco Gambit goes 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 Bg7 5. h4 h6 6. d4 d6 7. Nc3 c6 8. hxg5 hxg5 9. Rxh8 Bxh8 10. Ne5. It is a variation of the King's Gambit Accepted and is catalogued as ECO C38.
The Greco Gambit is ECO C38. 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. Bc4 Bg7 5. h4 h6 6. d4 d6 7. Nc3 c6 8. hxg5 hxg5 9. Rxh8 Bxh8 10. Ne5 at -2.30 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 d4 and e4. White is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to Black's one, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move. Black has doubled pawns on the f-file; White’s g-file pawn is isolated; the h-file file is fully open.