ECO C51 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Pavlov Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 5. b5 Na5 6. Nxe5 Nh6 7. d4 d6 8. Bxh6 dxe5 9. Bxg7 Rg8 10. Bxf7+ Kxf7 11. Bxe5 Qg5 12. Nd2

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

12… Bg4−0.64

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Pavlov Variation (C51), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 5. b5 Na5 6. Nxe5 Nh6 7. d4 d6 8. Bxh6 dxe5 9. Bxg7 Rg8 10. Bxf7+ Kxf7 11. Bxe5 Qg5 12. Nd2, Stockfish 18 recommends 12… Bg4 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.64).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.6412… Bg4 13. Nf3 Qh5 14. Qd3 c5 15. bxc6 Nxc6 16. O-O-O Bxf3 17. Qb3+
  2. −0.4812… a6 13. c4 c5 14. Qf3+ Ke8 15. Bf6 Qg4 16. d5 axb5 17. cxb5
  3. −0.2612… Ke8 13. f4 Qh4+ 14. g3 Rxg3 15. hxg3 Qxh1+ 16. Kf2 Qh2+ 17. Ke3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Pavlov Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 5. b5 Na5 6. Nxe5 Nh6 7. d4 d6 8. Bxh6 dxe5 9. Bxg7 Rg8 10. Bxf7+ Kxf7 11. Bxe5 Qg5 12. Nd2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 12… Bg4 for Black, continuing 13. Nf3 Qh5 14. Qd3 c5 15. bxc6 Nxc6 16. O-O-O Bxf3 17. Qb3+. Black is slightly better (−0.64). The next best moves are 12… a6 (−0.48) and 12… Ke8 (−0.26).
Is the Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Pavlov Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.64: black 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, Pavlov 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+).