Chessy
King's Pawn Game: Gunderam Gambit — play it as Black
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 c6, White to move, you are already in a tough practical position. Stockfish rates it +1.10, a clear, lasting advantage for White. That does not mean you should panic, but it does mean this opening demands accuracy. In the drill below, you will practise the engine’s recommended answer and see which White moves are most common, which ones are risky, and how to keep the game alive as Black.
Play the King's Pawn Game: Gunderam Gambit against the engine
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Create a free account →What you are fighting for
The key idea of the King's Pawn Game: Gunderam Gambit is simple: Black tries to support the centre with ...c6 and create an unusual game from the start. In practice, though, the position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 c6 already leaves White with a clear edge according to the engine. That makes this opening a practical challenge for Black rather than a safe equaliser. Your goal in the drill is not to prove the opening perfect; it is to learn the best way to respond when White gets the better position and still find active play.
The engine's best reply
The engine’s best move here is Nxe5, continuing Nxe5 Nf6 Bc4 d5. That is the line you should know first, because it is the cleanest way to meet White’s initiative in the exact position covered on this page. Even though the evaluation remains firmly in White’s favour, choosing the best continuation gives you the best chance to keep the position playable. In the drill, focus on recognising this tactical response quickly and confidently.
What White usually does
White has several popular continuations from this position, and the database shows that Bc4 is the most common, with 487,647 games. The other main choices are d4, Nxe5, Nc3, c3, and d3. That means you should be ready for both direct central play and quieter development. Because White is already better, many of these moves are aimed at keeping pressure on Black rather than forcing immediate tactics. Your task is to stay calm and choose the best reply instead of helping White’s attack.
Mistakes you can punish
This position also contains a few clear White mistakes. Bc4 is a mistake and loses about 1.1 pawns; c3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.9 pawns; d3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 1.0 pawns. In every case, the better move is Nxe5. That makes the drill especially useful: you are not only learning to survive, you are learning to recognise when White has chosen a weaker setup and how to meet it with the strongest move available.
What the numbers say
Across 1,289,972 games at this exact position, White wins 55.0%, draws 3.6%, and Black wins 41.5%. Those numbers match the engine verdict: Black is fighting an uphill battle here. Still, the position is not over, and practical chances remain if you know the key reply and avoid drifting into passive defence. Use the statistics as a warning sign, not a reason to give up.
Results across 1,289,972 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bc4 | 487,647 | 53.1% |
| d4 | 280,913 | 57.1% |
| Nxe5 | 224,959 | 58.2% |
| Nc3 | 155,656 | 55.2% |
| c3 | 54,191 | 54.1% |
| d3 | 20,913 | 51.3% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the King's Pawn Game: Gunderam Gambit good for Black?
It is a fighting choice, but the position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 c6 is already judged to favour White. Stockfish gives +1.10, so Black starts in a clear, lasting disadvantage. If you play it, you need to know the best reply and be comfortable defending an inferior position.
What is the best move for Black in this position?
The engine’s best move is Nxe5. The listed continuation is Nxe5 Nf6 Bc4 d5. In the drill, this is the move to learn first, because it is the strongest available answer in the exact position shown.
Which White moves are most common here?
The most-played continuations are Bc4, d4, Nxe5, Nc3, c3, and d3. Bc4 is the most common by a wide margin, so it is the first one worth expecting. The other moves still appear often enough that you should be ready for them too.
Which White moves are mistakes?
Bc4 is a mistake, while c3 and d3 are inaccuracies. In each case, the better move was Nxe5. That means White can drift into a weaker version of the position if they choose the wrong plan.
How many games feature the King's Pawn Game: Gunderam Gambit?
Over 1 million Lichess games have reached the King's Pawn Game: Gunderam Gambit position. White wins 55.0%, Black wins 41.5%, with 3.6% draws — based on real rated games.