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. 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, 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+).