ECO C44 · Ponziani Opening

Ponziani Opening: Romanishin Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Be7

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

4. d4+0.63

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ponziani Opening: Romanishin Variation (C44), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Be7, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. d4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.63).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.634. d4 d6 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. d5 Nb8 7. c4 Nbd7 8. Nc3 O-O
  2. +0.334. Bb5 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Ba4 a6 8. h3 b5
  3. +0.124. Be2 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 Nd5 7. Nxd4 d6 8. Nxc6 bxc6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ponziani Opening: Romanishin Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Be7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. d4 for White, continuing d6 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. d5 Nb8 7. c4 Nbd7 8. Nc3 O-O. White is slightly better (+0.63). The next best moves are 4. Bb5 (+0.33) and 4. Be2 (+0.12).
Is the Ponziani Opening: Romanishin Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.63: 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: Romanishin 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+).