Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Steinitz Variation
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 Na5 10. Bg5 f6 11. Be3
11… Nxc4−0.45
Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Steinitz Variation (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 Na5 10. Bg5 f6 11. Be3, Stockfish 18 recommends 11… Nxc4 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.45).
Top engine moves
- −0.4511… Nxc4 12. Qa4+ c6 13. Qxc4 Ne7 14. Rfe1 Ba5 15. Bd2 Bg4 16. Re3
- −0.2211… Ne7 12. Bd3 O-O 13. h3 Kh8 14. Na4 Nac6 15. Rc1 Ba5 16. Nc3
- −0.0311… Bg4 12. Be2 Ne7 13. h3 Bh5 14. e5 dxe5 15. dxe5 Qxd1 16. Raxd1
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Steinitz Variation?
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 Na5 10. Bg5 f6 11. Be3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 11… Nxc4 for Black, continuing 12. Qa4+ c6 13. Qxc4 Ne7 14. Rfe1 Ba5 15. Bd2 Bg4 16. Re3. Black is slightly better (−0.45). The next best moves are 11… Ne7 (−0.22) and 11… Bg4 (−0.03).
Is the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Steinitz Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.45: 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, Steinitz 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+).