ECO C51 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Fontaine Countergambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 b5

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

5. Bxf7++1.33

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Fontaine Countergambit (C51), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 b5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Bxf7+ for White. White is clearly better (+1.33).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.335. Bxf7+ Kxf7 6. bxc5 Nf6 7. Qe2 a6 8. O-O Qe7 9. a4 b4
  2. +0.905. Bxb5 Bxb4 6. O-O Nge7 7. c3 Bd6 8. d4 Rb8 9. Qa4 a6
  3. +0.555. Bd5 Bd6 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O Nge7 8. Ng5 Nxd5 9. exd5 Ne5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Fontaine Countergambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 b5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Bxf7+ for White, continuing Kxf7 6. bxc5 Nf6 7. Qe2 a6 8. O-O Qe7 9. a4 b4. White is clearly better (+1.33). The next best moves are 5. Bxb5 (+0.90) and 5. Bd5 (+0.55).
Is the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Fontaine Countergambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.33: White is clearly better. That is a large edge for an opening position, so check the engine lines before playing it from the other side.
What is the ECO code of the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Fontaine Countergambit?
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+).