ECO C50 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Giuoco Piano

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

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

4. c3+0.24

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

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Giuoco Piano (C50), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. c3 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.24).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.244. c3 Nf6 5. b4 Bb6 6. d3 d6 7. a4 a5 8. b5 Ne7
  2. +0.214. d3 Nf6 5. c3 d6 6. a4 a5 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 Be6
  3. +0.204. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 O-O 8. h3 Ba7

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Giuoco Piano?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. c3 for White, continuing Nf6 5. b4 Bb6 6. d3 d6 7. a4 a5 8. b5 Ne7. The position is roughly equal (+0.24). The next best moves are 4. d3 (+0.21) and 4. O-O (+0.20).
Is the Italian Game: Giuoco Piano a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.24: 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 Piano?
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+).