ECO C54 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Cracow Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Kf1

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

7… d5−0.48

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Cracow Variation (C54), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Kf1, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… d5 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.48).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.487… d5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Nc3 Bxc3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Qc2 h6 12. h3
  2. −0.277… Nxe4 8. d5 Ne7 9. Qd4 Nf6 10. a3 Ba5 11. Bg5 Bb6 12. Qc3
  3. +0.397… Na5 8. Bd3 d5 9. e5 Ne4 10. Qc2 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. a3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Cracow Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Kf1, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… d5 for Black, continuing 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Nc3 Bxc3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Qc2 h6 12. h3. Black is slightly better (−0.48). The next best moves are 7… Nxe4 (−0.27) and 7… Na5 (+0.39).
Is the Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Cracow Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.48: black 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, Cracow 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+).