ECO C50 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Lucchini Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 f5

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

5. Nc3+1.02

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Lucchini Gambit (C50), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 f5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Nc3 for White. White is clearly better (+1.02).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.025. Nc3 Nf6 6. Ng5 d5 7. Nxd5 h6 8. Nf3 Be6 9. Nxc7+ Qxc7
  2. +1.015. O-O d6 6. b4 Bb6 7. a4 a6 8. Nc3 f4 9. a5 Ba7
  3. +0.965. Ng5 f4 6. h4 Qe7 7. Nf7 d5 8. Bxd5 Nf6 9. Nxh8 Ng4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Lucchini Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 f5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Nc3 for White, continuing Nf6 6. Ng5 d5 7. Nxd5 h6 8. Nf3 Be6 9. Nxc7+ Qxc7. White is clearly better (+1.02). The next best moves are 5. O-O (+1.01) and 5. Ng5 (+0.96).
Is the Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Lucchini Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.02: 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: Giuoco Pianissimo, Lucchini Gambit?
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+).