ECO C51 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Mortimer-Evans Gambit

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 9. Nc3 Bg4 10. Qa4 Bd7 11. Qb3 Na5 12. Bxf7+ Kf8 13. Qc2 Kxf7

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

14. e5−0.59

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Mortimer-Evans Gambit (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 9. Nc3 Bg4 10. Qa4 Bd7 11. Qb3 Na5 12. Bxf7+ Kf8 13. Qc2 Kxf7, Stockfish 18 recommends 14. e5 for White. Black is slightly better (−0.59).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.5914. e5 h6 15. d5 Kf8 16. Ne4 Bf5 17. Qe2 Qe8 18. Ng3 Ne7
  2. −0.8714. Bg5 Qc8 15. Nd5 h6 16. Bh4 g5 17. Bg3 Ne7 18. Nxb6 axb6
  3. −1.3914. Nd5 h6 15. Nxb6 axb6 16. d5 Nf6 17. e5 Nxd5 18. Bb2 Be6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Mortimer-Evans Gambit?
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 9. Nc3 Bg4 10. Qa4 Bd7 11. Qb3 Na5 12. Bxf7+ Kf8 13. Qc2 Kxf7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 14. e5 for White, continuing h6 15. d5 Kf8 16. Ne4 Bf5 17. Qe2 Qe8 18. Ng3 Ne7. Black is slightly better (−0.59). The next best moves are 14. Bg5 (−0.87) and 14. Nd5 (−1.39).
Is the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Mortimer-Evans Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.59: black 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, Mortimer-Evans Gambit?
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+).