Caissa Codex
C39

King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit, Berlin Defense, de Riviere Variation

Chess diagram: King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit, Berlin Defense, de Riviere Variation after 6…d5

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Statistics from Lichess

1,972 games: White 39.4% / Draw 3.9% / Black 56.8%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
1,7231,723
146146
4848
1515
1010
1010
99
55

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 22, 2026

Engine evaluation

0.00 The position is about equal

Best play: 7. Nxf6+ Qxf6 8. Nc3 Qg7 9. Qf3 Bg4 10. Qxf4 Bd6 11. Bb5+ Nc6

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit, Berlin Defense, de Riviere Variation (ECO C39, Open Games) is a gambit in the King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit, Berlin Defense, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ne5 Nf6 6. Nxg4 d5 (6 moves).

In 1,972 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 39.4%, Black 56.8% and 3.9% were drawn. White's most played move here is 7. Nxf6+, in 87% of those games.

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How to play against the King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit, Berlin Defense, de Riviere Variation

The most played answer, 7. Nxf6+, also scores best for White: 43.7%, with White winning 41.7% and Black 54.4% of 1,723 games. Of the main answers, 7. e5 scores lowest: 20.2%. Stockfish's first choice is also 7. Nxf6+.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 6. Nxg4 d5, the position after King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit, Berlin Defense also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit, Berlin Defense, de Riviere Variation (C39)”. Lichess data as of 22 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/kings-gambit-accepted-kieseritzky-gambit-berlin-defense-de-riviere-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/kings-gambit-accepted-kieseritzky-gambit-berlin-defense-de-riviere-variation