The Falkbeer Countergambit, Rubinstein Variation is a variation of the King's Gambit Declined, catalogued as ECO C31. The line runs 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Qe2, reaching the position shown below after 9 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d5, Black on e4). Development is level at one minor pieces each, and White is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move after five moves. White has doubled pawns on the d-file.
On the King's Gambit Declined generally: Black declines the gambit pawn, leading to solid and strategic middlegame positions.
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The Falkbeer Countergambit, Rubinstein Variation goes 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Qe2. It is a variation of the King's Gambit Declined and is catalogued as ECO C31.
The Falkbeer Countergambit, Rubinstein Variation is ECO C31. 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. Nc3 Nf6 5. Qe2 at -0.28 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for Black, 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.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d5, Black on e4). Development is level at one minor pieces each, and White is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move. White has doubled pawns on the d-file.