King's Gambit Accepted: Cunningham Defense

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Be7

ECO C35

The King's Gambit Accepted: Cunningham Defense is a chess opening line in the King's Gambit Accepted complex, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Be7.

It is catalogued under code C35 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Be7 is chosen by Black on move 3.

2 named continuations branch from this position, including the Bertin Gambit and the McCormick Defense.

Named variations

• King's Gambit Accepted: Cunningham Defense, Bertin Gambit — ECO C35
• King's Gambit Accepted: Cunningham Defense, McCormick Defense — ECO C35

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the King's Gambit course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.