ECO C51 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Evans Gambit, McDonnell Defense, Main Line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O d6 8. cxd4 Bb6

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

9. Qb3+0.30

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, McDonnell Defense, Main Line (C51), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O d6 8. cxd4 Bb6, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. Qb3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.30).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.309. Qb3 Qe7 10. Qd3 Nf6 11. Ba3 Nxe4 12. Re1 f5 13. Nc3 Kd8
  2. +0.239. Nc3 Na5 10. Bd3 Ne7 11. Bg5 O-O 12. e5 dxe5 13. dxe5 Nac6
  3. +0.219. h3 Na5 10. Bd3 Ne7 11. Nc3 O-O 12. Rb1 Ng6 13. Nd5 c6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, McDonnell Defense, Main Line?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O d6 8. cxd4 Bb6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. Qb3 for White, continuing Qe7 10. Qd3 Nf6 11. Ba3 Nxe4 12. Re1 f5 13. Nc3 Kd8. White is slightly better (+0.30). The next best moves are 9. Nc3 (+0.23) and 9. h3 (+0.21).
Is the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, McDonnell Defense, Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.30: 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, McDonnell Defense, Main Line?
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+).