ECO C54 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Main Line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O Bxc3

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

9. d5−0.26

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

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Main Line (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 Bxc3, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. d5 for White. The position is roughly equal (−0.26).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.269. d5 Bf6 10. Re1 O-O 11. Rxe4 Ne7 12. Bg5 Ng6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6
  2. −0.449. Qc2 d5 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Bd3 Re8 12. Bf4 Bf5 13. Rfe1 Bg6
  3. −0.519. bxc3 d5 10. Bd3 O-O 11. Qc2 Re8 12. Bf4 Bf5 13. Rfe1 Bg6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Main Line?
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 Bxc3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. d5 for White, continuing Bf6 10. Re1 O-O 11. Rxe4 Ne7 12. Bg5 Ng6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6. The position is roughly equal (−0.26). The next best moves are 9. Qc2 (−0.44) and 9. bxc3 (−0.51).
Is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.26: 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, Main Line?
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+).