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. 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, 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+).