ECO C57 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Ulvestad Variation, Kurkin Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 b5 6. Bf1 h6 7. Nxf7

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

7… Kxf7+0.98

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Ulvestad Variation, Kurkin Gambit (C57), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 b5 6. Bf1 h6 7. Nxf7, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… Kxf7 for Black. White is clearly better (+0.98).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.987… Kxf7 8. dxc6 Qd5 9. Qf3 Qxf3 10. gxf3 Rb8 11. a4 b4 12. Bc4+
  2. +2.247… Qxd5 8. Nxh8 Nd4 9. Nc3 Qb7 10. f3 Bf5 11. d3 Qc6 12. Be3
  3. +3.867… Qd7 8. Nxh8 Nd4 9. c3 Nf5 10. d4 exd4 11. Be2 Bb7 12. Bh5+

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Ulvestad Variation, Kurkin Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 b5 6. Bf1 h6 7. Nxf7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… Kxf7 for Black, continuing 8. dxc6 Qd5 9. Qf3 Qxf3 10. gxf3 Rb8 11. a4 b4 12. Bc4+. White is clearly better (+0.98). The next best moves are 7… Qxd5 (+2.24) and 7… Qd7 (+3.86).
Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Ulvestad Variation, Kurkin Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.98: white is clearly 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, Ulvestad Variation, Kurkin Gambit?
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+).