Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Moeller-Bayonet Attack
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 9. d5 Bf6 10. Re1 Ne7 11. Rxe4 d6 12. g4
12… O-O−0.76
Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Moeller-Bayonet Attack (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 9. d5 Bf6 10. Re1 Ne7 11. Rxe4 d6 12. g4, Stockfish 18 recommends 12… O-O for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.76).
Top engine moves
- −0.7612… O-O 13. g5 Be5 14. Nxe5 Bf5 15. Re3 dxe5 16. Rxe5 Qd7 17. Qf3
- −0.5112… h6 13. h4 O-O 14. g5 Bf5 15. Re1 hxg5 16. hxg5 Be5 17. Nxe5
- −0.0912… Bd7 13. g5 Be5 14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. Rxe5 O-O 16. Re1 Ng6 17. Qf3
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Moeller-Bayonet Attack?
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 9. d5 Bf6 10. Re1 Ne7 11. Rxe4 d6 12. g4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 12… O-O for Black, continuing 13. g5 Be5 14. Nxe5 Bf5 15. Re3 dxe5 16. Rxe5 Qd7 17. Qf3. Black is slightly better (−0.76). The next best moves are 12… h6 (−0.51) and 12… Bd7 (−0.09).
Is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Moeller-Bayonet Attack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.76: black is slightly 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, Greco Gambit, Moeller-Bayonet Attack?
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+).