ECO C51 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Hein Countergambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 d5

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

5. exd5+0.53

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Hein Countergambit (C51), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 d5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. exd5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.53).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.535. exd5 Nxb4 6. O-O Nxd5 7. Bxd5 Qxd5 8. Nc3 Qe6 9. d4 Qc4
  2. +0.225. Bxd5 Nxb4 6. Bb3 Nf6 7. d3 O-O 8. Nbd2 Nc6 9. a4 Nh5
  3. −0.325. bxc5 dxc4 6. Na3 Nf6 7. O-O Be6 8. Qe2 Qe7 9. Nxc4 Qxc5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Hein Countergambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 d5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. exd5 for White, continuing Nxb4 6. O-O Nxd5 7. Bxd5 Qxd5 8. Nc3 Qe6 9. d4 Qc4. White is slightly better (+0.53). The next best moves are 5. Bxd5 (+0.22) and 5. bxc5 (−0.32).
Is the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Hein Countergambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.53: 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, Hein 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+).