ECO C55 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6

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

4. d3+0.25

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

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense (C55), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. d3 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.25).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.254. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. O-O h6 7. a4 Bb6 8. b4 a5
  2. +0.154. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Bd3 Nd5
  3. +0.134. d4 exd4 5. e5 d5 6. Bb5 Ne4 7. Nxd4 Bc5 8. Be3 Bd7

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nxe4 5. Nxe4 d5
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. d4 Bxd4 6. Nxd4 Nxd4 7. Bg5 d6
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Be2

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. d3 for White, continuing Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. O-O h6 7. a4 Bb6 8. b4 a5. The position is roughly equal (+0.25). The next best moves are 4. Ng5 (+0.15) and 4. d4 (+0.13).
Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.25: 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: Two Knights Defense?
C55. 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+).