ECO C51 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6

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

5. b5+0.37

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined (C51), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. b5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.37).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.375. b5 Nd4 6. Nxd4 Bxd4 7. c3 Bb6 8. Qb3 d5 9. Bxd5 Qf6
  2. +0.335. a4 a6 6. O-O d6 7. c3 Nf6 8. d3 O-O 9. Nbd2 h6
  3. +0.305. O-O d6 6. a4 a6 7. c3 Nf6 8. d3 O-O 9. Nbd2 h6

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 5. a4

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. b5 for White, continuing Nd4 6. Nxd4 Bxd4 7. c3 Bb6 8. Qb3 d5 9. Bxd5 Qf6. White is slightly better (+0.37). The next best moves are 5. a4 (+0.33) and 5. O-O (+0.30).
Is the Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.37: 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 Declined?
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+).