ECO C57 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, King March Line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 5. Nxf7 Bxf2+ 6. Kxf2 Nxe4+ 7. Ke3

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

7… Qh4−0.49

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, King March Line (C57), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 5. Nxf7 Bxf2+ 6. Kxf2 Nxe4+ 7. Ke3, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… Qh4 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.49).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.497… Qh4 8. g3 Qe7 9. Nc3 d5 10. Bxd5 Nxc3 11. dxc3 Qc5+ 12. Kf3
  2. +0.227… Qe7 8. Nxh8 d5 9. Qh5+ g6 10. Nxg6 Qc5+ 11. Ke2 Nf6 12. Qh4
  3. +1.737… Qf6 8. Qf3 Rf8 9. Qxe4 d5 10. Bxd5 Rxf7 11. Bxf7+ Kxf7 12. d3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, King March Line?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 5. Nxf7 Bxf2+ 6. Kxf2 Nxe4+ 7. Ke3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… Qh4 for Black, continuing 8. g3 Qe7 9. Nc3 d5 10. Bxd5 Nxc3 11. dxc3 Qc5+ 12. Kf3. Black is slightly better (−0.49). The next best moves are 7… Qe7 (+0.22) and 7… Qf6 (+1.73).
Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, King March Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.49: 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, Traxler Counterattack, King March Line?
C57. 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+).