ECO C56 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Scotch Invitation Declined

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 d6

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

5. d5+0.54

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Scotch Invitation Declined (C56), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 d6, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. d5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.54).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.545. d5 Nb8 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Qe2 c6 8. O-O Bg4 9. h3
  2. +0.455. O-O exd4 6. Nxd4 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Bf4 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 Be6
  3. +0.355. Nc3 Bg4 6. Bb5 exd4 7. Bxc6+ bxc6 8. Qxd4 Be7 9. e5 dxe5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Scotch Invitation Declined?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 d6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. d5 for White, continuing Nb8 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Qe2 c6 8. O-O Bg4 9. h3. White is slightly better (+0.54). The next best moves are 5. O-O (+0.45) and 5. Nc3 (+0.35).
Is the Italian Game: Scotch Invitation Declined a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.54: white 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 Invitation Declined?
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+).