King's Pawn Opening: Van Hooydoon Gambit

King's Pawn Opening: Van Hooydoon Gambit is a chess opening with the ECO code C20, part of the King's Pawn Opening family. It goes 1. e4 e5 2. Qe2 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Nxd4. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e5. After 12 moves it is White to move. After the last move Black is a pawn 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. Qe2 – White plays the queen to e2
• 2... Nc6 – Black plays the knight to c6
• 3. c3 – White plays the pawn to c3
• 3... Nf6 – Black plays the knight to f6
• 4. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
• 4... Bc5 – Black plays the bishop to c5
• 5. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4
• 5... exd4 – Black captures on d4 with the e-pawn
• 6. cxd4 – White captures on d4 with the c-pawn
• 6... Nxd4 – Black takes on d4 with the knight

Related openings

• It extends: King's Pawn Game (1. e4 e5)
• Related line: King's Pawn Opening: Speers (1. e4 e5 2. Qg4 Nf6 3. Qf5)
• Related line: King's Pawn Opening (1. e4 e5 2. b3)

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