The Falkbeer Countergambit, Charousek Gambit, Main Line is a variation of the King's Gambit Declined, catalogued as ECO C32. The line runs 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. d3 Nf6 5. dxe4 Nxe4 6. Nf3 Bc5 7. Qe2 Bf5, reaching the position shown below after 14 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d5. Black is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to White's one, and White is up a pawn of material. It is White to move after seven moves. The e-file file is fully open.
On the King's Gambit Declined generally: Black declines the gambit pawn, leading to solid and strategic middlegame positions.
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 16 King's Gambit Declined variations →
The Falkbeer Countergambit, Charousek Gambit, Main Line goes 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. d3 Nf6 5. dxe4 Nxe4 6. Nf3 Bc5 7. Qe2 Bf5. It is a variation of the King's Gambit Declined and is catalogued as ECO C32.
The Falkbeer Countergambit, Charousek Gambit, Main Line is ECO C32. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the King's Gambit Declined.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. d3 Nf6 5. dxe4 Nxe4 6. Nf3 Bc5 7. Qe2 Bf5 at +0.56 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. 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 d5. Black is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to White's one, and White is up a pawn of material. It is White to move. The e-file file is fully open.