Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knorre Variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Be2 h6 9. Nf3 e4 10. Ne5 Bd6 11. d4 Qc7 12. Bd2
12… c5+0.37
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knorre Variation (C59), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Be2 h6 9. Nf3 e4 10. Ne5 Bd6 11. d4 Qc7 12. Bd2, Stockfish 18 recommends 12… c5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.37).
Top engine moves
- +0.3712… c5 13. Bxa5 Qxa5+ 14. Nc3 Be6 15. Bb5+ Kf8 16. Nc6 Qb6 17. d5
- +0.4012… O-O 13. O-O c5 14. Na3 Rb8 15. Bxa5 Qxa5 16. Nec4 Qc7 17. Nxd6
- +0.4712… Be6 13. O-O O-O 14. Qe1 Nb7 15. Nc3 Bxe5 16. dxe5 Qxe5 17. Qc1
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knorre Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Be2 h6 9. Nf3 e4 10. Ne5 Bd6 11. d4 Qc7 12. Bd2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 12… c5 for Black, continuing 13. Bxa5 Qxa5+ 14. Nc3 Be6 15. Bb5+ Kf8 16. Nc6 Qb6 17. d5. White is slightly better (+0.37). The next best moves are 12… O-O (+0.40) and 12… Be6 (+0.47).
Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knorre Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.37: 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: Two Knights Defense, Knorre Variation?
C59. 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+).