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. That is a large edge for an opening position, so check the engine lines before playing it from the other side.
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+).