ECO C44 · Ponziani Opening

Ponziani Opening: Réti Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nge7

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

4. Bc4+0.48

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ponziani Opening: Réti Variation (C44), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nge7, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Bc4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.48).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.484. Bc4 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 Bg4 8. h3 Bh5
  2. +0.384. Bb5 d5 5. Nxe5 dxe4 6. Qe2 Be6 7. Qxe4 Bd5 8. Qe2 Bxg2
  3. +0.294. d4 exd4 5. Bc4 d5 6. exd5 Nxd5 7. O-O Be7 8. Nxd4 O-O

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ponziani Opening: Réti Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nge7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Bc4 for White, continuing d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 Bg4 8. h3 Bh5. White is slightly better (+0.48). The next best moves are 4. Bb5 (+0.38) and 4. d4 (+0.29).
Is the Ponziani Opening: Réti Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.48: white 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 Ponziani Opening: Réti Variation?
C44. 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+).