Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Therkatz-Herzog 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 Bxc3 9. d5 Bf6 10. Re1 Ne7 11. Rxe4 d6 12. Bg5 Bxg5 13. Nxg5 O-O 14. Nxh7
14… Kxh7−0.30
Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Therkatz-Herzog 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 Bxc3 9. d5 Bf6 10. Re1 Ne7 11. Rxe4 d6 12. Bg5 Bxg5 13. Nxg5 O-O 14. Nxh7, Stockfish 18 recommends 14… Kxh7 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.30).
Top engine moves
- −0.3014… Kxh7 15. Qh5+ Kg8 16. Rh4 f5 17. Qh7+ Kf7 18. Rh6 Rg8 19. Re1
- +0.0414… Bf5 15. Rxe7 Qxe7 16. Nxf8 Rxf8 17. Qd4 b6 18. Bf1 Re8 19. Rc1
- +1.1414… Re8 15. Ng5 f6 16. Ne6 Bxe6 17. Rxe6 Ng6 18. g3 Ne5 19. Be2
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Therkatz-Herzog 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 Bxc3 9. d5 Bf6 10. Re1 Ne7 11. Rxe4 d6 12. Bg5 Bxg5 13. Nxg5 O-O 14. Nxh7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 14… Kxh7 for Black, continuing 15. Qh5+ Kg8 16. Rh4 f5 17. Qh7+ Kf7 18. Rh6 Rg8 19. Re1. Black is slightly better (−0.30). The next best moves are 14… Bf5 (+0.04) and 14… Re8 (+1.14).
Is the Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Therkatz-Herzog Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.30: 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, Therkatz-Herzog 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+).