Bishop's Opening: Four Pawns Gambit position after 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.b4 Bxb4 4.f4 exf4 5.Nf3 Be7 6.d4 Bh4+ 7.g3 fxg3 8.O-O gxh2+ 9.Kh1. White: bishop on c4, pawn on d4, pawn on e4, knight on f3, pawn on a2, pawn on c2, rook on a1, knight on b1, bishop on c1, queen on d1, rook on f1, king on h1. Black: rook on a8, knight on b8, bishop on c8, queen on d8, king on e8, knight on g8, rook on h8, pawn on a7, pawn on b7, pawn on c7, pawn on d7, pawn on f7, pawn on g7, pawn on h7, bishop on h4, pawn on h2.
Bishop's Opening: Four Pawns Gambit is a chess opening that arises after 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.b4 Bxb4 4.f4 exf4 5.Nf3 Be7 6.d4 Bh4+ 7.g3 fxg3 8.O-O gxh2+ 9.Kh1. It is classified C23 in the ECO system, and the position after these moves has black to move. The Bishop's Opening develops the bishop to c4 before the king's knight, aiming at f7 immediately and keeping f4 available. It frequently transposes into the Vienna Game or the Italian, so it functions as much as a move-order device as an independent opening.
Strategic character
Flexible and transpositional. It sidesteps the Petrov entirely, which is one of its main practical attractions for 1.e4 players tired of that defence.
Who should play it
Players who want to reach Italian and Vienna structures while avoiding specific defences by move order.
This line is a variation within the Bishop's Opening family. The strategic ideas above describe the family as a whole; this particular line reaches them by the move order 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.b4 Bxb4 4.f4 exf4 5.Nf3 Be7 6.d4 Bh4+ 7.g3 fxg3 8.O-O gxh2+ 9.Kh1.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Bishop's Opening: Four Pawns Gambit?
The Bishop's Opening: Four Pawns Gambit is a chess opening that arises after 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.b4 Bxb4 4.f4 exf4 5.Nf3 Be7 6.d4 Bh4+ 7.g3 fxg3 8.O-O gxh2+ 9.Kh1. It is classified C23 in the ECO system. The Bishop's Opening develops the bishop to c4 before the king's knight, aiming at f7 immediately and keeping f4 available. It frequently transposes into the Vienna Game or the Italian, so it functions as much as a move-order device as an independent opening.
What are the moves of the Bishop's Opening: Four Pawns Gambit?
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.b4 Bxb4 4.f4 exf4 5.Nf3 Be7 6.d4 Bh4+ 7.g3 fxg3 8.O-O gxh2+ 9.Kh1. After these moves it is black to move.
Is the Bishop's Opening: Four Pawns Gambit good for beginners?
Players who want to reach Italian and Vienna structures while avoiding specific defences by move order.