ECO C52 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Dufresne Defense

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O d3

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

8. Qb3+0.32

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Dufresne Defense (C52), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O d3, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. Qb3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.32).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.328. Qb3 Qf6 9. e5 Qg6 10. Rd1 Nge7 11. Bxd3 Qe6 12. Ba3 a6
  2. −0.448. Re1 d6 9. Qb3 Be6 10. Qxb7 Nge7 11. Bd5 Bd7 12. Qa6 O-O
  3. −0.448. Nbd2 Nge7 9. Ng5 d5 10. Nxf7 Kxf7 11. exd5 Ne5 12. d6+ Nxc4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Dufresne Defense?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O d3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. Qb3 for White, continuing Qf6 9. e5 Qg6 10. Rd1 Nge7 11. Bxd3 Qe6 12. Ba3 a6. White is slightly better (+0.32). The next best moves are 8. Re1 (−0.44) and 8. Nbd2 (−0.44).
Is the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Dufresne Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.32: 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, Dufresne Defense?
C52. 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+).