Caissa Codex
C30

King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Soldatenkov Variation

Chess diagram: King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Soldatenkov Variation after 4. fxe5

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Statistics from Lichess

130,987 games: White 44.2% / Draw 3.8% / Black 52.0%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
116,834117K
10,46810K
2,3422,342
311311
236236
193193
9797
8383

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026

Engine evaluation

0.00 The position is about equal

Best play: 4... dxe5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bg4 7. h3 Bd7 8. d4 exd4 9. Bxc6

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

Overview

King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Soldatenkov Variation (ECO C30, Open Games) is a declined gambit in the King's Gambit Declined: Classical Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5 3. Nf3 d6 4. fxe5 (4 moves).

In 130,987 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 44.2%, Black 52.0% and 3.8% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 4…dxe5, in 89% of those games.

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How to play against the King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Soldatenkov Variation

The most played answer, 4…dxe5, also scores best for Black: 55.2%, with Black winning 53.3% and White 42.9% of 117K games. Of the main answers, 4…Bg4 scores lowest: 43.6%. Stockfish's first choice is also 4…dxe5.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black'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 3. Nf3 d6 4. fxe5, the position after King's Gambit Declined: Classical Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Soldatenkov Variation (C30)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/kings-gambit-declined-classical-soldatenkov-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/kings-gambit-declined-classical-soldatenkov-variation