ECO C58 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Blackburne Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Qf3 cxb5

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

9. Qxa80.00

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

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Blackburne Variation (C58), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Qf3 cxb5, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. Qxa8 for White. The position is roughly equal (0.00).

Top engine moves

  1. 0.009. Qxa8 Be7 10. d3 h6 11. Nf3 O-O 12. Qb8 Nc6 13. Qxb5 Nb4
  2. −3.439. O-O Bg4 10. Qg3 Be7 11. d4 exd4 12. Ne4 Qd7 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6
  3. −3.689. d4 Bg4 10. Qg3 exd4 11. O-O Be7 12. Ne4 h5 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Blackburne Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Qf3 cxb5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. Qxa8 for White, continuing Be7 10. d3 h6 11. Nf3 O-O 12. Qb8 Nc6 13. Qxb5 Nb4. The position is roughly equal (0.00). The next best moves are 9. O-O (−3.43) and 9. d4 (−3.68).
Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Blackburne Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at 0.00: 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, Blackburne Variation?
C58. 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+).