ECO C51 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Evans Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4

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

4… Bxb4−0.10

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

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Evans Gambit (C51), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Bxb4 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.10).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.104… Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. Qb3 Qf6 8. O-O Bb6 9. Bg5
  2. +0.214… d5 5. exd5 Nxb4 6. O-O Nf6 7. c3 Nbxd5 8. Nxe5 O-O 9. d4
  3. +0.374… Nxb4 5. c3 Nc6 6. d4 Bb6 7. Nxe5 Nxe5 8. dxe5 d6 9. Qb3

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. O-O d6
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O d6 8. cxd4 Bb6 9. Nc3 Bg4

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Evans Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Bxb4 for Black, continuing 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. Qb3 Qf6 8. O-O Bb6 9. Bg5. The position is roughly equal (−0.10). The next best moves are 4… d5 (+0.21) and 4… Nxb4 (+0.37).
Is the Italian Game: Evans Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.10: 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: Evans Gambit?
C51. 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+).