Chessy
Play the King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit, Lopez Defense as Black
The King's Gambit is one of chess's most aggressive openings, and White's 3.Bc4 introduces the Bishop's Gambit — a direct attack on f7. But you're not here to just take punishment. By playing 3...c6, the Lopez Defense, you prepare to strike back in the centre with ...d5 while keeping an extra pawn. This page will show you how to handle the position after 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 c6. The engine assessment — -0.55 favouring Black — means you already stand slightly better. Let's see why, and how to keep it that way. Play the interactive drill below to practise the key ideas.
Play the King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit, Lopez Defense against the engine
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Create a free account →The Big Idea Behind 3...c6
The Lopez Defense might look like a quiet waiting move, but it has a sharp point. With 3...c6 you prepare ...d5, challenging White's strong bishop on c4 and opening lines for your pieces. If White isn't careful, your queen can jump to h4 with a nasty check, and your central pawn break can dismantle White's space advantage. The statistics back this up: across 45,257 games from this position, Black wins 44.1% of the time — a solid number for such a sharp opening. White wins 52.9% and draws are rare at 3.0%.
The Engine's Recommended Line
Stockfish's top choice for White is 4.d4, which is also the most principled move — White fights for the centre. After 4.d4 Qh4+ 5.Kf1 d5, you've achieved everything you wanted: your queen is active, you've challenged the centre, and White's king has had to move. The engine rates this position -0.55 in Black's favour. That slight edge means you are slightly better here, with a comfortable game ahead. Your plan from here is to develop naturally (Nf6, Be7, 0-0) and keep the pressure on White's exposed king.
How to Punish White's Mistakes
Two common White moves in this position are serious errors. If White plays 4.Qh5, aiming for a quick Scholar's Mate-style attack, it's a mistake that loses about 1.3 pawns in evaluation. The correct response is to defend f7 (for instance with ...g6, forcing the queen to retreat) and then continue with your ...d5 break. Even worse for White is 4.Bxf7+, the flashy bishop sacrifice — this loses roughly 1.9 pawns. After 4...Kxf7, White has no follow-up, and you have a bishop for free with a winning position. In both cases, the engine says White should have played 4.d4 instead.
Choosing Your Reply to the Most Popular Moves
The most common move White plays is 4.Nf3 (24,888 games), scoring 52.0% for White — not great for them. Your best answer is ...d5 immediately, which gains time by attacking the bishop. After 5.exd5 cxd5 6.Bb5+ Nc6, you've traded pawns and developed with tempo. The second-most popular move, 4.d4, is the engine's recommendation and we covered it above. What about 4.Nc3 (6,733 games, 59.0% for White)? That score is inflated because many Black players don't know the refutation. Hit back with 4...d5 again, and if 5.exd5 cxd5 6.Bb5+ Nc6, you're fine. Note that 4.d3 (1,228 games) scores only 47.6% for White — a poor result — so if your opponent plays quietly, you can simply develop and keep your extra pawn.
Results across 45,257 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | 24,888 | 52.0% |
| d4 | 8,505 | 51.4% |
| Nc3 | 6,733 | 59.0% |
| d3 | 1,228 | 47.6% |
| Qh5 | 1,038 | 57.0% |
| Bxf7+ | 886 | 56.4% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the King's Gambit Accepted good for Black?
Yes, especially in the Bishop's Gambit, Lopez Defense. The engine gives this position -0.55, favouring Black, which means you stand slightly better right from the start. Across over 45,000 games, Black wins 44.1% of the time, which is a strong result for a gambit opening.
What should Black do if White plays 4.Nf3?
4.Nf3 is the most common move in this position. Your best reply is ...d5, immediately challenging the centre. After 5.exd5 cxd5 6.Bb5+ Nc6, you've developed a piece and equalised comfortably. White only scores 52.0% from this line — nothing special for them.
How do I punish 4.Bxf7+ in the Lopez Defense?
Take the bishop! After 4...Kxf7, White has sacrificed a piece for one pawn and has no real attack. You're up a piece with a solid position. Statistically this is White's worst move in this position, losing roughly 1.9 pawns in evaluation. Just develop calmly and enjoy your material advantage.
Is 4.Qh5 a dangerous move for Black?
Not at all. 4.Qh5 is a known mistake that loses about 1.3 pawns. You can simply defend f7 with ...g6, forcing the queen to retreat, then play ...d5. Your position is already slightly better, and after White wastes time with the queen, you'll be well ahead in development.