Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Krause Variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Nxe4 8. Bxb4 Nxb4 9. Bxf7+ Kxf7 10. Qb3+ d5 11. Ne5+ Kf6 12. f3
12… Nd6+1.00
White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Krause Variation (C54), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Nxe4 8. Bxb4 Nxb4 9. Bxf7+ Kxf7 10. Qb3+ d5 11. Ne5+ Kf6 12. f3, Stockfish 18 recommends 12… Nd6 for Black. White is clearly better (+1.00).
Top engine moves
- +1.0012… Nd6 13. Qxb4 Nc4 14. Nc3 Nxe5 15. dxe5+ Kf7 16. O-O-O c6 17. Qf4+
- +1.0012… Ng5 13. Qxb4 Nf7 14. f4 g6 15. Nd2 Kg7 16. O-O Rf8 17. Rae1
- +1.0512… Nc5 13. Qxb4 Nd7 14. f4 g6 15. O-O Kg7 16. Nd2 Rf8 17. Ndf3
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Krause Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Nxe4 8. Bxb4 Nxb4 9. Bxf7+ Kxf7 10. Qb3+ d5 11. Ne5+ Kf6 12. f3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 12… Nd6 for Black, continuing 13. Qxb4 Nc4 14. Nc3 Nxe5 15. dxe5+ Kf7 16. O-O-O c6 17. Qf4+. White is clearly better (+1.00). The next best moves are 12… Ng5 (+1.00) and 12… Nc5 (+1.05).
Is the Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Krause Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.00: 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, Krause 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+).