Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Harding Variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. d4 exd4 7. cxd4 Bb4+ 8. Bd2
8… Bxd2+−0.05
The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Harding Variation (C51), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. d4 exd4 7. cxd4 Bb4+ 8. Bd2, Stockfish 18 recommends 8… Bxd2+ for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.05).
Top engine moves
- −0.058… Bxd2+ 9. Qxd2 d6 10. O-O Nf6 11. Nc3 O-O 12. Rfe1 Ne7 13. Rad1
- +0.518… b6 9. Bxb4 Nxb4 10. Qb3 Qe7 11. O-O Nh6 12. Nc3 O-O 13. h3
- +0.708… Nh6 9. Bxb4 Nxb4 10. Qd2 Nc6 11. d5 Ne7 12. d6 cxd6 13. Nc3
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Harding Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. d4 exd4 7. cxd4 Bb4+ 8. Bd2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8… Bxd2+ for Black, continuing 9. Qxd2 d6 10. O-O Nf6 11. Nc3 O-O 12. Rfe1 Ne7 13. Rad1. The position is roughly equal (−0.05). The next best moves are 8… b6 (+0.51) and 8… Nh6 (+0.70).
Is the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Harding Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.05: the position is roughly equal. 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, Harding 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+).