Mexican Defense: Horsefly Gambit
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Statistics from Lichess
11,315 games: White 47.9% / Draw 3.8% / Black 48.4%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 5,7385,738 | ||
| 5,4435,443 | ||
| 107107 | ||
| 1515 | ||
| 99 | ||
| 11 | ||
| 11 | ||
| 11 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
−0.49 Black is slightly better
Best play: 4... Nxc4 5. e4 Nb6 6. Nc3 e6 7. dxe6 dxe6 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Bd2
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Mexican Defense: Horsefly Gambit (ECO A50, Flank Openings) is a gambit in the Mexican Defense, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. d5 Ne5 4. f4 (4 moves).
In 11,315 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.9%, Black 48.4% and 3.8% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 4…Nxc4, in 51% 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 Mexican Defense: Horsefly Gambit
The most played answer, 4…Nxc4, also scores best for Black: 51.7%, with Black winning 49.9% and White 46.5% of 5,738 games. Of the main answers, 4…Ng6 scores lowest: 49.1%. Stockfish's first choice is also 4…Nxc4.
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
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Mexican Defense: Horsefly Gambit (A50)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/mexican-defense-horsefly-gambit