Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Moeller-Therkatz 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
9… Ne5−0.30
Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Moeller-Therkatz 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, Stockfish 18 recommends 9… Ne5 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.30).
Top engine moves
- −0.309… Ne5 10. Qe2 O-O 11. bxc3 Nxc4 12. Qxc4 Nd6 13. Qf4 Re8 14. Ba3
- −0.249… Bf6 10. Re1 O-O 11. Rxe4 Ne7 12. d6 cxd6 13. Bg5 d5 14. Bxd5
- −0.049… Nd6 10. dxc6 O-O 11. bxc3 Nxc4 12. Bg5 f6 13. Qd5+ Kh8 14. Qxc4
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Moeller-Therkatz 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, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9… Ne5 for Black, continuing 10. Qe2 O-O 11. bxc3 Nxc4 12. Qxc4 Nd6 13. Qf4 Re8 14. Ba3. Black is slightly better (−0.30). The next best moves are 9… Bf6 (−0.24) and 9… Nd6 (−0.04).
Is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Moeller-Therkatz Attack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.30: 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-Therkatz 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+).