ECO C57 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Fritz, Gruber Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nd4 6. c3 b5 7. Bf1 Nxd5 8. Ne4

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

8… Ne6+0.13

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

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Fritz, Gruber Variation (C57), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nd4 6. c3 b5 7. Bf1 Nxd5 8. Ne4, Stockfish 18 recommends 8… Ne6 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.13).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.138… Ne6 9. Bxb5+ Bd7 10. Bxd7+ Qxd7 11. O-O Rd8 12. d4 exd4 13. cxd4
  2. +0.538… Nc6 9. Bxb5 Bb7 10. d4 Qh4 11. Ng5 Nf4 12. Bxf4 Qxf4 13. d5
  3. +0.938… Qh4 9. Ng3 Bb7 10. cxd4 O-O-O 11. d3 Qxd4 12. Be2 Bb4+ 13. Nd2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Fritz, Gruber Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nd4 6. c3 b5 7. Bf1 Nxd5 8. Ne4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8… Ne6 for Black, continuing 9. Bxb5+ Bd7 10. Bxd7+ Qxd7 11. O-O Rd8 12. d4 exd4 13. cxd4. The position is roughly equal (+0.13). The next best moves are 8… Nc6 (+0.53) and 8… Qh4 (+0.93).
Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Fritz, Gruber Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.13: 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, Fritz, Gruber Variation?
C57. 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+).