Bishop's Opening: Four Pawns Gambit is a chess opening with the ECO code C23, part of the Bishop's Opening family. It goes 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 opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e5. After 17 moves it is Black to move. After the last move Black is 4 points ahead in material. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.
The moves
1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
1... e5 – Black plays the pawn to e5
2. Bc4 – White plays the bishop to c4
2... Bc5 – Black plays the bishop to c5
3. b4 – White plays the pawn to b4
3... Bxb4 – Black takes on b4 with the bishop
4. f4 – White plays the pawn to f4
4... exf4 – Black captures on f4 with the e-pawn
5. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
5... Be7 – Black plays the bishop to e7
6. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4
6... Bh4+ – Black plays the bishop to h4, giving check
The line goes on for 5 more moves; the lesson shows them all.
About the Bishop's Opening
After 1.e4 e5, White plays 2.Bc4 at once, aiming at f7. White keeps options open for f4 or a quiet Italian-style game.
White often plays d3, Nf3, c3 and O-O, then pushes d4.
Black's best reply is 2...Nf6, attacking e4 right away.
Black can also hit back with ...d5 to gain time against the bishop.
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