The Van Hooydoon Gambit is a variation of the King's Pawn Opening, catalogued as ECO C20. The line runs 1. e4 e5 2. Qe2 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Nxd4, reaching the position shown below after 12 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on e4. Black is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to White's one, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is White to move after six moves.
On the King's Pawn Opening generally: ECO C20. A chess opening with 3 known variations.
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.
All King's Pawn Opening variations
The Van Hooydoon Gambit goes 1. e4 e5 2. Qe2 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Nxd4. It is a variation of the King's Pawn Opening and is catalogued as ECO C20.
The Van Hooydoon Gambit is ECO C20. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the King's Pawn Opening.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 e5 2. Qe2 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Nxd4 at -1.21 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.
White holds the centre with pawns on e4. Black is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to White's one, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is White to move.