ECO C58 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Bogoljubow Variation

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

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

8… Be7−0.26

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

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Bogoljubow 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, Stockfish 18 recommends 8… Be7 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.26).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.268… Be7 9. Bd3 O-O 10. Nc3 h6 11. Nge4 Nd5 12. Ng3 Nb4 13. Nf5
  2. −0.168… cxb5 9. Qxa8 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Qf3 Bb7 12. Qe2 h6 13. Nf3
  3. +0.118… Rb8 9. Be2 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Qd3 Qxd3 12. Bxd3 h6 13. Ne4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Bogoljubow 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, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8… Be7 for Black, continuing 9. Bd3 O-O 10. Nc3 h6 11. Nge4 Nd5 12. Ng3 Nb4 13. Nf5. The position is roughly equal (−0.26). The next best moves are 8… cxb5 (−0.16) and 8… Rb8 (+0.11).
Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Bogoljubow Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.26: 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, Polerio Defense, Bogoljubow 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+).