Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Kieseritzky Variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. d3
6… h6−0.38
Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Kieseritzky Variation (C58), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. d3, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… h6 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.38).
Top engine moves
- −0.386… h6 7. Nf3 e4 8. Nd4 Bc5 9. Be3 O-O 10. Ne6 Bb4+ 11. c3
- −0.066… Nxc4 7. dxc4 h6 8. Nf3 Bd6 9. Be3 O-O 10. c5 Be7 11. Nc3
- +0.256… Bc5 7. Nc3 O-O 8. O-O Bd4 9. Ne2 Bb6 10. b3 Bg4 11. h3
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Kieseritzky Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. d3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… h6 for Black, continuing 7. Nf3 e4 8. Nd4 Bc5 9. Be3 O-O 10. Ne6 Bb4+ 11. c3. Black is slightly better (−0.38). The next best moves are 6… Nxc4 (−0.06) and 6… Bc5 (+0.25).
Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Kieseritzky Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.38: black 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, Polerio Defense, Kieseritzky 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+).