Chessy
King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit Accepted
After 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5, you reach a sharp but practical battle where the centre is already open and every tempo matters. This drill helps you handle the exact position that arises next, with Black to move and the main choices laid out clearly. The position is slightly better for your opponent, so your job is to know the best reply, recognise the common mistakes, and keep the game under control without drifting into trouble.
Play the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit Accepted against the engine
Free, no signup — you play white, the engine adapts to your level.
Play the drill now and test your choices against the engine. Create a free account to track your progress and revisit the positions you miss.
Create a free account →What this position really means
Stockfish rates this -0.30, a small edge for Black. That means you are slightly worse here. The opening has already turned into a direct test of whether you can stay active after giving up the f-pawn and accepting the consequences in the centre. White should not panic, but you do need to be precise: the wrong capture or pawn push can hand Black a more comfortable game very quickly.
Black's best answer and the idea behind it
The engine's best move here is exf4, and the continuation given is exf4 Nf3 Nf6 Bb5+. That is the move the drill wants you to learn first, because it matches the most forceful way for Black to meet the position. As White, your focus is not on memorising long lines, but on understanding that Black is trying to turn the extra central pressure into an initiative while keeping your development awkward.
What the database says people play
This exact position appears in 2,008,063 games, so there is plenty of real practice behind it. White wins 50.2%, draws 3.2%, and Black wins 46.5%. The most-played continuations are e4, exf4, Qxd5, c6, Nf6, and Bc5. That spread tells you this is not a forced ending: players choose very different plans, and the drill is useful because the position stays tactical and practical.
The mistakes you should know
The clearest warnings are the listed inaccuracies and mistake. e4 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.9 pawns, with exf4 as the better move. Qxd5 is also an inaccuracy and loses about 0.7 pawns, again with exf4 as the better move. c6 is a mistake and loses about 1.1 pawns, with exf4 still the better move. In other words, if you want to stay in the game, do not rush with an automatic central push or grab material without checking the response first.
Results across 2,008,063 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e4 | 637,152 | 45.9% |
| exf4 | 618,619 | 50.0% |
| Qxd5 | 596,256 | 55.7% |
| c6 | 79,754 | 41.3% |
| Nf6 | 28,285 | 54.3% |
| Bc5 | 20,344 | 49.5% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in this position for Black?
The engine's best move is exf4. The listed continuation is exf4 Nf3 Nf6 Bb5+, which is the main line this drill is built around.
Is this position good for White or Black?
Stockfish rates it -0.30, a small edge for Black. So you are slightly worse and need to play accurately.
Which replies are most common here?
The most-played continuations are e4, exf4, Qxd5, c6, Nf6, and Bc5. The database also shows that exf4 and Qxd5 appear very often, so you should be ready for them in practice.
Which moves should I avoid as White?
e4 is an inaccuracy, Qxd5 is an inaccuracy, and c6 is a mistake. In every case, the better move listed is exf4, so the main lesson is to respect the central tension and not play too quickly.
How many games feature the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit Accepted?
Over 2 million Lichess games have reached the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit Accepted position. White wins 50.2%, Black wins 46.5%, with 3.2% draws — based on real rated games.