Chessy
Play the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Hinrichsen Gambit
After 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.d4, the position becomes sharp and direct. It is Black to move, and the engine’s choice shows exactly where the game wants to go. Your task in the drill below is to understand the most resilient defence, spot the common replies, and learn why some natural-looking moves give Black the easier game. This is a great position to practise because it tests your feel for central tension, open lines, and simple development under pressure.
Play the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Hinrichsen Gambit against the engine
Free, no signup — you play white, the engine adapts to your level.
Jump into the drill and practise the key responses move by move. Create a free account to track your progress and revisit the position anytime.
Create a free account →What the engine wants here
Stockfish rates this -0.81, a clear, lasting advantage for Black. That means you are worse here, so your practical goal is not to “win back” everything at once, but to keep the game alive and make Black prove the point. The engine’s best move is exd4, and the main continuation given is exd4 Qxd4 Nf6 Nc3. In other words, Black is happy to trade in the centre and use quick piece activity to keep the pressure on.
The most important replies to recognise
The database shows that Black has several natural responses, but not all of them are equal. The most-played continuation is dxe4 with 35,300 games, and White scores 48.6% there. Other common choices are exf4 with 13,875 games and White scoring 45.5%, exd4 with 9,755 games and White scoring 43.6%, Nc6 with 3,166 games and White scoring 48.3%, f5 with 2,159 games and White scoring 47.0%, and c5 with 1,884 games and White scoring 49.6%. The drill helps you tell the difference between a move that is merely playable and one that gives Black the clearer path.
Where White’s position is most fragile
The sharpest warning in the position is that some moves are outright mistakes for Black, and that tells you what kinds of ideas White is trying to meet. dxe4 is marked as a mistake and loses about 1.1 pawns; Nc6 is a mistake and loses about 1.6 pawns; f5 is a mistake and loses about 1.7 pawns. In each case, the better move was exd4. For your training, this means you should be ready to punish loose central play and not drift into passive development.
How to handle the middlegame plans
This opening usually turns into a fight over the centre and fast piece activity. As White, you need to stay alert to Black’s direct central answer and avoid helping Black simplify on good terms. Good habits here are simple: keep your pieces active, watch king safety, and do not spend too long chasing a pawn if it costs development. The critical lesson from this position is that Black is already asking a concrete question, so your moves should be purposeful rather than automatic.
Results across 71,602 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| dxe4 | 35,300 | 48.6% |
| exf4 | 13,875 | 45.5% |
| exd4 | 9,755 | 43.6% |
| Nc6 | 3,166 | 48.3% |
| f5 | 2,159 | 47.0% |
| c5 | 1,884 | 49.6% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Hinrichsen Gambit good for White?
In this position, the engine gives -0.81, which is a clear, lasting advantage for Black. So White is not better here; you need accurate play to stay in the game. The drill is useful because it teaches you how to respond to Black’s direct central counterattack.
What is the best move for Black here?
The engine’s best move is **exd4**. The main continuation given is **exd4 Qxd4 Nf6 Nc3**. That line shows Black aiming for quick activity and pressure in the centre.
Which replies does White face most often?
The most-played continuation is **dxe4** with **35,300 games**. Other common replies are **exf4**, **exd4**, **Nc6**, **f5**, and **c5**. The database results help you see which replies are most worth studying first.
Which moves are mistakes in this position?
The listed mistakes for Black are **dxe4**, **Nc6**, and **f5**. Each one loses material compared with the engine’s preferred **exd4**. That makes this position a good test of whether you can punish the wrong central choice.
How many games feature the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Hinrichsen Gambit?
Over 71K Lichess games have reached the King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Hinrichsen Gambit position. White wins 47.5%, Black wins 48.5%, with 4.0% draws — based on real rated games.