ECO C52 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Johner Defense

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O b5

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

8. Bxb5+0.94

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Johner 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 b5, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. Bxb5 for White. White is clearly better (+0.94).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.948. Bxb5 d3 9. Qxd3 Nge7 10. Rd1 O-O 11. Nbd2 d6 12. Nc4 Bb6
  2. +0.288. Bd5 dxc3 9. Qb3 Qf6 10. e5 Qf5 11. Nxc3 Bxc3 12. Bxc6 Ne7
  3. −0.078. Bb3 dxc3 9. Qd3 Qf6 10. Bg5 Qd6 11. Qxb5 Nge7 12. Rd1 Qb4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Johner Defense?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O b5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. Bxb5 for White, continuing d3 9. Qxd3 Nge7 10. Rd1 O-O 11. Nbd2 d6 12. Nc4 Bb6. White is clearly better (+0.94). The next best moves are 8. Bd5 (+0.28) and 8. Bb3 (−0.07).
Is the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Johner Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.94: white is clearly 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, Johner 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+).