ECO C51 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Hicken Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 5. b5 Na5 6. Nxe5 Qg5 7. Qf3 Qxe5 8. Qxf7+ Kd8 9. Bb2

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

9… Qxe4+−1.29

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Hicken Variation (C51), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 5. b5 Na5 6. Nxe5 Qg5 7. Qf3 Qxe5 8. Qxf7+ Kd8 9. Bb2, Stockfish 18 recommends 9… Qxe4+ for Black. Black is clearly better (−1.29).

Top engine moves

  1. −1.299… Qxe4+ 10. Be2 Ne7 11. Bxg7 Qxg2 12. Rf1 Re8 13. Bh5 Ng6+ 14. Be2
  2. +0.319… Qe7 10. Qxg7 Nxc4 11. Qxe7+ Nxe7 12. Bxh8 d5 13. Nc3 dxe4 14. Nxe4
  3. +1.509… Qe8 10. Qxg7 Nxc4 11. Bf6+ Nxf6 12. Qxf6+ Qe7 13. Qxh8+ Qe8 14. Qxh7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Hicken Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 5. b5 Na5 6. Nxe5 Qg5 7. Qf3 Qxe5 8. Qxf7+ Kd8 9. Bb2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9… Qxe4+ for Black, continuing 10. Be2 Ne7 11. Bxg7 Qxg2 12. Rf1 Re8 13. Bh5 Ng6+ 14. Be2. Black is clearly better (−1.29). The next best moves are 9… Qe7 (+0.31) and 9… Qe8 (+1.50).
Is the Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Hicken Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −1.29: black is clearly 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, Hicken Variation?
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+).