Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Krause Variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O Bc5 6. e5 Ng4 7. c3
7… d5+0.30
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Krause Variation (C56), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O Bc5 6. e5 Ng4 7. c3, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… d5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.30).
Top engine moves
- +0.307… d5 8. Bb3 d3 9. Qxd3 O-O 10. Bf4 Re8 11. Ng5 g6 12. Qxd5
- +0.577… d3 8. b4 Be7 9. Re1 d6 10. exd6 cxd6 11. Bxd3 O-O 12. Nbd2
- +1.417… dxc3 8. Bxf7+ Kxf7 9. Qd5+ Kf8 10. Qxc5+ d6 11. exd6 Qxd6 12. Qxc3
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Krause Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O Bc5 6. e5 Ng4 7. c3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… d5 for Black, continuing 8. Bb3 d3 9. Qxd3 O-O 10. Bf4 Re8 11. Ng5 g6 12. Qxd5. White is slightly better (+0.30). The next best moves are 7… d3 (+0.57) and 7… dxc3 (+1.41).
Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Krause Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.30: 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, Max Lange Attack, Krause Variation?
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+).