ECO C54 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Classical Variation, Ghulam-Kassim Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 Ne4 7. Bd5 Nxf2 8. Kxf2 dxc3+ 9. Kg3

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

9… cxb2+1.07

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Ghulam-Kassim Variation (C54), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 Ne4 7. Bd5 Nxf2 8. Kxf2 dxc3+ 9. Kg3, Stockfish 18 recommends 9… cxb2 for Black. White is clearly better (+1.07).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.079… cxb2 10. Bxb2 d6 11. h3 Bf5 12. Bxc6+ bxc6 13. Qc1 O-O 14. Kh2
  2. +1.509… Ne7 10. Nxc3 c6 11. Be4 d5 12. exd6 Qd7 13. h3 Bxd6+ 14. Kf2
  3. +1.959… O-O 10. Nxc3 Ne7 11. Be4 f5 12. Bd5+ Kh8 13. h3 d6 14. Bb3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Ghulam-Kassim Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 Ne4 7. Bd5 Nxf2 8. Kxf2 dxc3+ 9. Kg3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9… cxb2 for Black, continuing 10. Bxb2 d6 11. h3 Bf5 12. Bxc6+ bxc6 13. Qc1 O-O 14. Kh2. White is clearly better (+1.07). The next best moves are 9… Ne7 (+1.50) and 9… O-O (+1.95).
Is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Ghulam-Kassim Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.07: White is clearly better. That is a large edge for an opening position, so check the engine lines before playing it from the other side.
What is the ECO code of the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Ghulam-Kassim Variation?
C54. 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+).