ECO C58 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Paoli Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Qf3 Qc7 9. Bd3

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

9… Bg4+0.52

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Paoli 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 Qc7 9. Bd3, Stockfish 18 recommends 9… Bg4 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.52).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.529… Bg4 10. Qg3 h5 11. h3 h4 12. Qe3 Nd5 13. Qe4 Bc8 14. Nc3
  2. +0.559… h6 10. Ne4 Nd5 11. Ng3 h5 12. Nxh5 Nb4 13. Ng3 g6 14. Nc3
  3. +0.779… Be7 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Bf5 h6 12. Nge4 Nxe4 13. Nxe4 Bxf5 14. Qxf5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Paoli 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 Qc7 9. Bd3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9… Bg4 for Black, continuing 10. Qg3 h5 11. h3 h4 12. Qe3 Nd5 13. Qe4 Bc8 14. Nc3. White is slightly better (+0.52). The next best moves are 9… h6 (+0.55) and 9… Be7 (+0.77).
Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Paoli Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.52: 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, Paoli 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+).