ECO code: C35
King's Gambit Accepted: Cunningham Defense, McCormick Defense
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 Be7 4. Bc4 Nf6
This variation of the King's Gambit Accepted features Black's early ...Be7, known as the Cunningham or McCormick Defense. The move ...Be7 aims to prepare quick kingside development and supports Black's defense against White's aggressive intentions.
Characteristic: The ...Be7 move is somewhat less common than the immediate ...Nf6 or ...g5 responses and is designed to maintain solid development while avoiding some of White’s sharpest attacking lines. It can be seen as a flexible, somewhat cautious approach that keeps Black's options open.
Playing Style: From Black’s perspective, this setup is primarily defensive, focusing on consolidating the extra pawn and completing development safely. For White, the position remains attacking in nature, as White aims to leverage rapid piece activity and control of the center to regain the pawn and open lines.
Center Control: White continues to contest the center actively with moves like e4 and Nf3, while Black adopts a more reserved stance, not immediately challenging the center aggressively but preparing to do so after completing development.
This opening is defined by the position shown on the board below. The moves displayed are a typical sequence that leads to it, but different sequences can reach the same position and still carry the same opening name.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the King's Gambit Accepted: Cunningham Defense, McCormick Defense, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 4 - Move #8 white