ECO C56 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Scotch Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O

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

5… Nxe4−0.16

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit (C56), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… Nxe4 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.16).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.165… Nxe4 6. Re1 d5 7. Bxd5 Qxd5 8. Nc3 Qh5 9. Nxe4 Be6 10. Bg5
  2. +0.265… Be7 6. Re1 O-O 7. e5 Ne8 8. Bb5 a6 9. Ba4 d6 10. Bxc6
  3. +0.275… Bc5 6. e5 d5 7. exf6 dxc4 8. fxg7 Rg8 9. Re1+ Be6 10. Bg5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… Nxe4 for Black, continuing 6. Re1 d5 7. Bxd5 Qxd5 8. Nc3 Qh5 9. Nxe4 Be6 10. Bg5. The position is roughly equal (−0.16). The next best moves are 5… Be7 (+0.26) and 5… Bc5 (+0.27).
Is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.16: the position is roughly equal. 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: Scotch Gambit?
C56. 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+).