Chessy
Ponziani Opening: Ponziani Countergambit for Black
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 f5, White is faced with a sharp choice. You are not trying to sit quietly and equalise: you are asking White an immediate question and offering a countergambit right away. The position is already practical and tactical, and the drill below lets you practise the replies that matter most. Learn the common continuations, avoid the early mistakes, and get used to the kind of middlegame this gambit creates.
Play the Ponziani Opening: Ponziani Countergambit against the engine
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Create a free account →What you are trying to achieve with ...f5
This opening is for Black players who want to challenge White early and create an unbalanced game. The move ...f5 immediately contests the centre and adds tension on the kingside, so White has to decide whether to take, advance, or develop. That makes this a very active choice, but it also means you must be ready for White’s best reactions. The drill helps you feel that tension from the Black side and practise responding without drifting into a passive game.
The critical position after 3...f5
Stockfish rates this +0.51, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here. So this is not a fully comfortable equalising line for Black, and you should play it with clear purpose rather than hope. The engine’s best move is d4, and the listed continuation is d4 fxe4 Nxe5 Nf6. That tells you the opening is heading straight into an active, tactical struggle where move order matters.
What the database says White usually does
In 223,381 games at this exact position, White’s most common reply is exf5 with 108,992 games. White also often chooses d4 with 51,879 games, or d3 with 33,774 games. The important lesson is simple: this is a real practical position, not a side line that only appears once in a blue moon. If you know the main replies, you will be much better prepared when your opponent accepts the challenge.
Moves White should be careful with
Some White moves are especially uncomfortable in practice. Bd3 is marked as a mistake and loses about 2.2 pawns; the better move was exf5. Bb5 is also a mistake and loses about 2.9 pawns; the better move was d4. Bc4 is the clearest problem, because it is a blunder and loses about 3.7 pawns; the better move was exf5. As Black, these are the positions you want to recognise: if White develops too casually, you may get a strong tactical response.
Results across 223,381 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| exf5 | 108,992 | 45.1% |
| d4 | 51,879 | 47.4% |
| d3 | 33,774 | 46.8% |
| Bd3 | 8,224 | 40.7% |
| Bb5 | 4,931 | 44.4% |
| Bc4 | 4,573 | 43.1% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ponziani Countergambit good for Black?
It is playable, but the position is not objectively ideal for Black. Stockfish gives +0.51, which means White has a small edge, so you need to know your ideas and play actively.
What is the best move in this position for White?
The engine’s best move is d4. The listed continuation is d4 fxe4 Nxe5 Nf6, so Black should be ready for an immediate central fight.
What are White’s most common replies after 3...f5?
The most-played continuations are exf5, d4, d3, Bd3, Bb5, and Bc4. Among these, exf5 is by far the most popular, so it is worth knowing how you want to answer it.
Which White moves are tactical mistakes here?
Bd3 is a mistake, Bb5 is a mistake, and Bc4 is a blunder. The database notes better moves for White in each case, so these are good patterns to recognise when you are playing Black.
How many games feature the Ponziani Opening: Ponziani Countergambit?
Over 223K Lichess games have reached the Ponziani Opening: Ponziani Countergambit position. White wins 45.6%, Black wins 51.3%, with 3.1% draws — based on real rated games.