ECO C51 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Hirschbach Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 5. b5 Na5 6. Nxe5 Qg5

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

7. Bxf7++0.40

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Hirschbach Variation (C51), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 5. b5 Na5 6. Nxe5 Qg5, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. Bxf7+ for White. White is slightly better (+0.40).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.407. Bxf7+ Kf8 8. Bxg8 Kxg8 9. d4 Qxg2 10. Qf3 Qxf3 11. Nxf3 d5
  2. −0.787. Bb2 Nxc4 8. Nxc4 Qxg2 9. Rf1 d6 10. Nxb6 Bh3 11. Qe2 cxb6
  3. −1.187. d4 Qxg2 8. Bxf7+ Kf8 9. Rf1 d6 10. Bxg8 Kxg8 11. Qf3 Qxf3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Hirschbach Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 5. b5 Na5 6. Nxe5 Qg5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. Bxf7+ for White, continuing Kf8 8. Bxg8 Kxg8 9. d4 Qxg2 10. Qf3 Qxf3 11. Nxf3 d5. White is slightly better (+0.40). The next best moves are 7. Bb2 (−0.78) and 7. d4 (−1.18).
Is the Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Hirschbach Variation 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 Declined, Hirschbach 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+).