ECO C53 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Classical Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3

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

4… Nf6+0.01

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Classical Variation (C53), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Nf6 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.01).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.014… Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nbd2 d5 8. exd5 Qe7+ 9. Qe2
  2. +0.534… Bb6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 d6 7. Bb5 Bd7 8. O-O Nge7 9. Nc3
  3. +0.544… d6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb6 7. Bb5 Bd7 8. O-O Nge7 9. Nc3

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Classical Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Nf6 for Black, continuing 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nbd2 d5 8. exd5 Qe7+ 9. Qe2. The position is roughly equal (+0.01). The next best moves are 4… Bb6 (+0.53) and 4… d6 (+0.54).
Is the Italian Game: Classical Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.01: the position is roughly equal. 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: Classical Variation?
C53. 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+).