ECO C55 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3

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

4… Bc5+0.30

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening (C55), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Bc5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.30).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.304… Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. b4 Bb6 8. a4 a5 9. b5
  2. +0.304… Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Re1 d6 7. a3 Be6 8. Bxe6 fxe6 9. c3
  3. +0.334… a6 5. Ng5 d5 6. exd5 Na5 7. O-O Bd6 8. Nc3 b5 9. Bb3

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 h6 5. O-O d6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Bc5 for Black, continuing 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. b4 Bb6 8. a4 a5 9. b5. White is slightly better (+0.30). The next best moves are 4… Be7 (+0.30) and 4… a6 (+0.33).
Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening 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, Modern Bishop's Opening?
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+).