ECO C50 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 h6

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

4. d4+0.68

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense (C50), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 h6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. d4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.68).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.684. d4 exd4 5. O-O Nf6 6. Re1 d6 7. Nxd4 Ne5 8. Bf1 g5
  2. +0.584. O-O Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. Re1 d6 7. Nxd4 Be7 8. Nxc6 bxc6
  3. +0.354. Nc3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. Nd5 Nf6 7. c3 Bb6 8. Nxb6 axb6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 h6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. d4 for White, continuing exd4 5. O-O Nf6 6. Re1 d6 7. Nxd4 Ne5 8. Bf1 g5. White is slightly better (+0.68). The next best moves are 4. O-O (+0.58) and 4. Nc3 (+0.35).
Is the Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.68: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense?
C50. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).