ECO C54 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Bernstein 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. Qb3 d5

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

11. Qxc3+0.49

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Bernstein 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. Qb3 d5, Stockfish 18 recommends 11. Qxc3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.49).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.4911. Qxc3 dxc4 12. d5 Ne7 13. Bh6 Rg8 14. Bc1 Nxd5 15. Qxc4 Qd6
  2. +0.4711. Bxd5 O-O 12. Bxf7+ Rxf7 13. Ng5 Be6 14. Qxc3 Rf6 15. Qc2 Rg6
  3. −0.8211. Bg5 dxc4 12. Qxc4 Qd6 13. Qxc3 O-O 14. Qe3 Bf5 15. Bf4 Qd7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Bernstein 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. Qb3 d5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 11. Qxc3 for White, continuing dxc4 12. d5 Ne7 13. Bh6 Rg8 14. Bc1 Nxd5 15. Qxc4 Qd6. White is slightly better (+0.49). The next best moves are 11. Bxd5 (+0.47) and 11. Bg5 (−0.82).
Is the Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Bernstein Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.49: white is slightly 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, Bernstein 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+).