ECO C50 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Rousseau Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 f5

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

4. d4+1.21

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Rousseau Gambit (C50), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 f5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. d4 for White. White is clearly better (+1.21).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.214. d4 exd4 5. Ng5 Qf6 6. Nf7 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 fxe4 8. Nxh8 Nge7
  2. +0.884. d3 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. Nc3 d6 7. Bg5 f4 8. Bxf6 Qxf6
  3. +0.204. exf5 e4 5. Nd4 Nf6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bb3 d5 8. Ba4 Qd6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Rousseau Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 f5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. d4 for White, continuing exd4 5. Ng5 Qf6 6. Nf7 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 fxe4 8. Nxh8 Nge7. White is clearly better (+1.21). The next best moves are 4. d3 (+0.88) and 4. exf5 (+0.20).
Is the Italian Game: Rousseau Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.21: 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: Rousseau Gambit?
C50. 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+).