ECO C50 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3

abcdefgh87654321
Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

4… a6+0.23

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo (C50), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… a6 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.23).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.234… a6 5. Ng5 Nh6 6. h3 d6 7. Qh5 Qf6 8. O-O Qg6 9. Qxg6
  2. +0.264… d6 5. c3 Nf6 6. O-O O-O 7. h3 a6 8. a4 Ba7 9. Re1
  3. +0.264… Nf6 5. O-O a6 6. c3 Ba7 7. Re1 d6 8. a4 O-O 9. h3

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. O-O O-O
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. Nc3 d6 6. d3
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. d3

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… a6 for Black, continuing 5. Ng5 Nh6 6. h3 d6 7. Qh5 Qf6 8. O-O Qg6 9. Qxg6. The position is roughly equal (+0.23). The next best moves are 4… d6 (+0.26) and 4… Nf6 (+0.26).
Is the Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.23: the position is roughly equal. 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: Giuoco Pianissimo?
C50. 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+).