Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Aitken Variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bxc3 10. Ba3
10… d5+1.75
White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Aitken Variation (C54), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bxc3 10. Ba3, Stockfish 18 recommends 10… d5 for Black. White is clearly better (+1.75).
Top engine moves
- +1.7510… d5 11. Bb5 Bxa1 12. Re1+ Be6 13. Qc2 Qd7 14. Ne5 Nxe5 15. Bxd7+
- +2.2610… Bb4 11. Bxb4 Nxb4 12. Re1+ Kf8 13. Qb3 a5 14. Bxf7 a4 15. Qxb4+
- +2.6910… d6 11. Rc1 Ba5 12. Qa4 O-O 13. d5 Ne5 14. Nxe5 Bd2 15. Rcd1
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Aitken Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bxc3 10. Ba3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 10… d5 for Black, continuing 11. Bb5 Bxa1 12. Re1+ Be6 13. Qc2 Qd7 14. Ne5 Nxe5 15. Bxd7+. White is clearly better (+1.75). The next best moves are 10… Bb4 (+2.26) and 10… d6 (+2.69).
Is the Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Aitken Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.75: White is clearly better. That is a large edge for an opening position, so check the engine lines before playing it from the other side.
What is the ECO code of the Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Aitken Variation?
C54. 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+).