ECO C54 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Anderssen Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb4+

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

9. Nbd2+0.14

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

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Anderssen Variation (C54), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb4+, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. Nbd2 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.14).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.149. Nbd2 O-O 10. O-O Bxd2 11. Bxd2 Bg4 12. Be3 f6 13. Qd3 Bxf3
  2. +0.119. Bd2 O-O 10. O-O Be7 11. Nc3 Bg4 12. Be3 f5 13. Ne2 g5
  3. −0.449. Nfd2 O-O 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. O-O Ba6 12. Re1 Qh4 13. g3 Qh3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Anderssen Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb4+, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. Nbd2 for White, continuing O-O 10. O-O Bxd2 11. Bxd2 Bg4 12. Be3 f6 13. Qd3 Bxf3. The position is roughly equal (+0.14). The next best moves are 9. Bd2 (+0.11) and 9. Nfd2 (−0.44).
Is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Anderssen Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.14: 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, Greco Gambit, Anderssen 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+).