ECO C54 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3

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

5… O-O+0.23

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

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo (C54), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… O-O for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.23).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.235… O-O 6. O-O d6 7. h3 h6 8. Re1 a5 9. d4 Bb6 10. Be3
  2. +0.245… d6 6. O-O O-O 7. h3 h6 8. Re1 a5 9. Nbd2 Be6 10. b3
  3. +0.285… a5 6. O-O d6 7. Re1 O-O 8. h3 h6 9. Nbd2 Be6 10. b3

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 h6 6. c3
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a5
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 Bb6
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 O-O
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. c3 d5
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. O-O
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. Re1
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 h6 7. Re1
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 h6 7. Nbd2
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 Ba7
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 O-O
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. Re1 Ba7

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… O-O for Black, continuing 6. O-O d6 7. h3 h6 8. Re1 a5 9. d4 Bb6 10. Be3. The position is roughly equal (+0.23). The next best moves are 5… d6 (+0.24) and 5… a5 (+0.28).
Is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.23: 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, Giuoco Pianissimo?
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+).