King's Pawn Game: Bavarian Gambit
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Statistics from Lichess
10,714 games: White 50.8% / Draw 4.1% / Black 45.1%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 6,7876,787 | ||
| 1,4271,427 | ||
| 1,4011,401 | ||
| 835835 | ||
| 6969 | ||
| 3333 | ||
| 2222 | ||
| 2121 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.87 White is better
Best play: 3. cxd5 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 5. Nc3 cxd5 6. exd5 Bd6 7. d4 e4
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
King's Pawn Game: Bavarian Gambit (ECO C20, Open Games) is a gambit in the English Opening: The Whale, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. c4 d5 (2 moves).
In 10,714 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 50.8%, Black 45.1% and 4.1% were drawn. White's most played move here is 3. cxd5, in 63% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the King's Pawn Game: Bavarian Gambit
The most played answer, 3. cxd5, also scores best for White: 55.3%, with White winning 53.2% and Black 42.5% of 6,787 games. Of the main answers, 3. Nc3 scores lowest: 46.7%. Stockfish's first choice is also 3. cxd5.
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
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “King's Pawn Game: Bavarian Gambit (C20)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/kings-pawn-game-bavarian-gambit