ECO C59 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Suhle Defense

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Be2 h6

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

9. Nh3−0.25

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

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Suhle Defense (C59), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Be2 h6, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. Nh3 for White. The position is roughly equal (−0.25).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.259. Nh3 Bc5 10. O-O Nb7 11. d3 O-O 12. Nd2 Nd6 13. a4 Re8
  2. −0.289. Nf3 e4 10. Ne5 Bc5 11. O-O Qd4 12. Ng4 Bxg4 13. Bxg4 Nc4
  3. −1.459. b4 Bxb4 10. Nh3 O-O 11. O-O Rb8 12. d3 Nd5 13. Bf3 Qh4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Suhle Defense?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Be2 h6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. Nh3 for White, continuing Bc5 10. O-O Nb7 11. d3 O-O 12. Nd2 Nd6 13. a4 Re8. The position is roughly equal (−0.25). The next best moves are 9. Nf3 (−0.28) and 9. b4 (−1.45).
Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Suhle Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.25: 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, Suhle Defense?
C59. 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+).