ECO C52 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Compromised Defense

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O dxc3

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

8. Qb3+0.40

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Compromised Defense (C52), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O dxc3, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. Qb3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.40).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.408. Qb3 Qf6 9. Bg5 Qg6 10. Nxc3 Bxc3 11. Qxc3 f6 12. Bf4 d6
  2. −0.718. e5 Nge7 9. Ng5 Nxe5 10. Nxf7 Nxf7 11. Bxf7+ Kxf7 12. Qh5+ Kg8
  3. −0.958. h3 Nf6 9. Ba3 d6 10. e5 O-O 11. exf6 Qxf6 12. Bd5 Bf5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Compromised Defense?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O dxc3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. Qb3 for White, continuing Qf6 9. Bg5 Qg6 10. Nxc3 Bxc3 11. Qxc3 f6 12. Bf4 d6. White is slightly better (+0.40). The next best moves are 8. e5 (−0.71) and 8. h3 (−0.95).
Is the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Compromised Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.40: white 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: Evans Gambit, Compromised Defense?
C52. 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+).