King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit, Boden Variation position after 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ 4.Kf1 Nc6. White: bishop on c4, pawn on e4, pawn on a2, pawn on b2, pawn on c2, pawn on d2, pawn on g2, pawn on h2, rook on a1, knight on b1, bishop on c1, queen on d1, king on f1, knight on g1, rook on h1. Black: rook on a8, bishop on c8, king on e8, bishop on f8, 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, knight on c6, pawn on f4, queen on h4.
King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit, Boden Variation is a chess opening that arises after 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ 4.Kf1 Nc6. It is classified C33 in the ECO system, and the position after these moves has white to move. The King's Gambit Accepted sees Black take the offered f-pawn. White gives up a pawn and a measure of king safety to seize the centre with d4 and open the f-file for a direct attack. It dominated nineteenth-century chess and remains one of the sharpest openings still played.
Strategic character
Extremely sharp. White's compensation is real but temporary, so the attack must be pressed. Black's task is to return the pawn at the right moment and reach an endgame where the structural damage to White's kingside tells.
Who should play it
Romantic attacking players who accept objective risk for maximum practical pressure.
This line is a variation within the King's Gambit Accepted family. The strategic ideas above describe the family as a whole; this particular line reaches them by the move order 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ 4.Kf1 Nc6.
Frequently asked questions
What is the King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit, Boden Variation?
The King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit, Boden Variation is a chess opening that arises after 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ 4.Kf1 Nc6. It is classified C33 in the ECO system. The King's Gambit Accepted sees Black take the offered f-pawn. White gives up a pawn and a measure of king safety to seize the centre with d4 and open the f-file for a direct attack. It dominated nineteenth-century chess and remains one of the sharpest openings still played.
What are the moves of the King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit, Boden Variation?
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ 4.Kf1 Nc6. After these moves it is white to move.
Is the King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit, Boden Variation good for beginners?
Romantic attacking players who accept objective risk for maximum practical pressure.