King's Gambit Declined: Classical Variation

King's Gambit Declined: Classical Variation is a chess opening with the ECO code C30, part of the King's Gambit Declined family. It goes 1. e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5 3. Nf3 d6 4. c3. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e5. After 7 moves it is Black to move. 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. f4 – White plays the pawn to f4
2... Bc5 – Black plays the bishop to c5
3. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
3... d6 – Black plays the pawn to d6
4. c3 – White plays the pawn to c3

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 4... Nf6.

About the King's Gambit Declined

After 1.e4 e5 2.f4, Black refuses the pawn, usually with 2...Bc5 or 2...d5. This avoids White's main attacking lines.

The bishop on c5 stops White from castling short easily.
2...d5 (Falkbeer) hits back in the centre right away.
Black develops normally and watches the f-file and the a7-g1 diagonal.

chessGM has a full course for this line: open the King's Gambit Declined: Classical Variation course lesson.

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