ECO C51 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Vasquez Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 5. b5 Na5 6. Nxe5 Qg5 7. Bxf7+ Ke7 8. Qh5

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

8… Qxh5−0.54

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Vasquez Variation (C51), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 5. b5 Na5 6. Nxe5 Qg5 7. Bxf7+ Ke7 8. Qh5, Stockfish 18 recommends 8… Qxh5 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.54).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.548… Qxh5 9. Bxh5 Bd4 10. c3 Bxe5 11. d4 g6 12. Be2 Bg7 13. Bg5+
  2. 0.008… Qxg2 9. Bxg8 Qxh1+ 10. Ke2 Qxe4+ 11. Kf1 Qh1+ 12. Ke2 Qe4+
  3. +2.818… Qf4 9. Bxg8 Qxf2+ 10. Kd1 Rxg8 11. d3 Re8 12. Bg5+ Kf8 13. Nd2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Vasquez Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 5. b5 Na5 6. Nxe5 Qg5 7. Bxf7+ Ke7 8. Qh5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8… Qxh5 for Black, continuing 9. Bxh5 Bd4 10. c3 Bxe5 11. d4 g6 12. Be2 Bg7 13. Bg5+. Black is slightly better (−0.54). The next best moves are 8… Qxg2 (0.00) and 8… Qf4 (+2.81).
Is the Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Vasquez Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.54: 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, Vasquez 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+).