Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Greco Variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O Nxc3
9. bxc3+0.14
The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Greco Variation (C54), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O Nxc3, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. bxc3 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.14).
Top engine moves
- +0.149. bxc3 d5 10. cxb4 dxc4 11. Re1+ Ne7 12. Qa4+ Bd7 13. b5 O-O
- 0.009. Re1+ Be7 10. bxc3 d5 11. Bd3 O-O 12. h3 Bd6 13. Ng5 g6
- −0.229. Bxf7+ Kxf7 10. bxc3 Be7 11. d5 Rf8 12. dxc6 dxc6 13. Qb3+ Qd5
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Greco Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O Nxc3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. bxc3 for White, continuing d5 10. cxb4 dxc4 11. Re1+ Ne7 12. Qa4+ Bd7 13. b5 O-O. The position is roughly equal (+0.14). The next best moves are 9. Re1+ (0.00) and 9. Bxf7+ (−0.22).
Is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Greco 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, Greco 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+).