ECO C56 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Walbrodt-Baird Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. O-O

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

6… Nxe4−0.40

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Walbrodt-Baird Gambit (C56), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. O-O, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… Nxe4 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.40).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.406… Nxe4 7. cxd4 d5 8. dxc5 dxc4 9. Qe2 Qd3 10. Re1 f5 11. Nbd2
  2. +0.296… dxc3 7. e5 d5 8. exf6 dxc4 9. Qxd8+ Nxd8 10. fxg7 Rg8 11. Nxc3
  3. +0.496… d6 7. cxd4 Bb6 8. h3 O-O 9. Re1 Nxe4 10. Rxe4 d5 11. Bxd5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Walbrodt-Baird Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. O-O, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… Nxe4 for Black, continuing 7. cxd4 d5 8. dxc5 dxc4 9. Qe2 Qd3 10. Re1 f5 11. Nbd2. Black is slightly better (−0.40). The next best moves are 6… dxc3 (+0.29) and 6… d6 (+0.49).
Is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Walbrodt-Baird Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.40: 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: Scotch Gambit, Walbrodt-Baird 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+).