Italian Game
Stockfish 16.1 · runs in your browser1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 · For White · ECO C50 to C59
The example line for Italian Game is 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4. Explore 187 saved positions and compare up to three engine continuations per position. The saved Stockfish 16 analysis reaches depth 16, with scores in pawns from White's perspective. Step through the opening on the board and try a continuation to explore the resulting position.
By Chessvia · Updated Oct 18, 2026
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Italian Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4
Black’s choices
Stockfish 16 · depth 16 · + favours White
Level +0.14
Engine lines
Anti-Fried Liver Defense: 3...h6
White slightly better +0.61
Play this lineBlackburne-Kostić Gambit: 3...Nd4
White clearly better +1.20
Play this lineGiuoco Piano: 3...Bc5
Level +0.15
Play this line| Line | Moves | Engine check (+ favours White) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classical Variation, Albin Gambit | 4.O-O Nf6 5.c3 | Black slightly better -0.32 | Play |
| Deutz Gambit | 4.O-O Nf6 5.d4 | Level -0.19 | Play |
| Giuoco Piano, Rosentreter Variation | 5...Bxd4 6.Nxd4 Nxd4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.f4 | White slightly better +0.75 | Play |
| Two Knights Defense | 5...Bxd4 6.Nxd4 Nxd4 7.Bg5 d6 | Level -0.15 | Play |
| Giuoco Piano, Holzhausen Attack | 8.f4 Qe7 9.fxe5 dxe5 10.Nc3 | Black slightly better -0.48 | Play |
| Giuoco Pianissimo | 4.d3 | Level +0.14 | Play |
| Lucchini Gambit | 4...f5 | White clearly better +1.02 | Play |
| Dubois Variation | 5.Ng5 f4 | White slightly better +0.45 | Play |
| Giuoco Pianissimo | 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.O-O O-O | Level +0.11 | Play |
| After 6.d3 | Level +0.07 | Play | |
| Jerome Gambit | 4.Bxf7+ | Black clearly better -2.54 | Play |
| Rosentreter Gambit | 4.d4 | Black slightly better -0.42 | Play |
| Evans Gambit | 4.b4 | Level -0.19 | Play |
| Evans Gambit Accepted | 4...Bxb4 | Level -0.19 | Play |
| Evans Gambit, Anderssen Variation | 5.c3 Be7 | Level -0.02 | Play |
| Cordel Line | 6.d4 Na5 | Level -0.01 | Play |
| Evans Gambit, Mayet Defense | 5.c3 Bf8 | White slightly better +0.39 | Play |
| Evans Gambit, McDonnell Defense | 5.c3 Bc5 | White slightly better +0.30 | Play |
| Harding Variation | 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 Bb4+ 8.Bd2 | Level -0.01 | Play |
| Main Line | 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O d6 8.cxd4 Bb6 | Level +0.22 | Play |
| Morphy Attack | 9.Nc3 | Level +0.25 | Play |
| After 9...Bg4 | White slightly better +0.44 | Play | |
| Fraser Attack | 10.Qa4 | Level +0.19 | Play |
| Fraser-Mortimer Attack | 10...Bd7 11.Qb3 Na5 12.Bxf7+ Kf8 13.Qc2 | Black slightly better -0.92 | Play |
| Mortimer-Evans Gambit | 13...Kxf7 | Black clearly better -1.08 | Play |
| Göring Attack | 9...Na5 10.Bg5 | Level -0.24 | Play |
| Steinitz Variation | 10...f6 11.Be3 | Black slightly better -0.66 | Play |
| Ulvestad Variation | 9.d5 Na5 10.Bb2 | Black slightly better -0.34 | Play |
| Paulsen Variation | 10...Ne7 | Level -0.09 | Play |
| Evans Gambit, Stone-Ware Variation | 5.c3 Bd6 | Level +0.29 | Play |
| Evans Gambit, Main Line | 5.c3 Ba5 | Level -0.12 | Play |
| Bronstein Defense | 6.d4 d6 | Level -0.10 | Play |
| Sokolsky Variation | 7.Bg5 | Black slightly better -0.97 | Play |
| Tartakower Attack | 7.Qb3 | Level -0.12 | Play |
| Levenfish Variation | 7...Qd7 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.O-O Bb6 10.Ba3 Na5 11.Nxe5 | Level -0.05 | Play |
| Laroche Variation | 6.d4 Nf6 | White clearly better +1.43 | Play |
| Leonhardt Countergambit | 6.d4 b5 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| Pierce Defense | 6.d4 exd4 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| Compromised Defense | 7.O-O dxc3 | White slightly better +0.65 | Play |
| Main Line | 8.Qb3 Qf6 9.e5 Qg6 10.Nxc3 Nge7 11.Ba3 | White slightly better +0.39 | Play |
| Potter Variation | 8.Qb3 Qf6 9.e5 Qg6 10.Nxc3 Nge7 11.Rd1 | Level -0.03 | Play |
| Dufresne Defense | 7.O-O d3 | Level +0.22 | Play |
| Johner Defense | 7.O-O b5 | White clearly better +1.14 | Play |
| Mieses Defense | 7.O-O Nge7 | Level -0.12 | Play |
| Waller Attack | 7.O-O d6 8.Qb3 | Level +0.14 | Play |
| Slow Variation | 6.O-O | Black slightly better -0.54 | Play |
| After 6...d6 | Black slightly better -0.45 | Play | |
| Alapin-Steinitz Variation | 7.d4 Bg4 | Black slightly better -0.41 | Play |
| Lasker Defense | 7.d4 Bb6 | Level -0.24 | Play |
| Sanders-Alapin Variation | 7.d4 Bd7 | Level +0.04 | Play |
| Anderssen Defense | 6...Nf6 7.d4 exd4 | Level +0.25 | Play |
| Richardson Attack | 6...Nf6 7.d4 O-O 8.Nxe5 | Level -0.06 | Play |
| Evans Gambit Declined | 4...Bb6 | Level +0.25 | Play |
| After 5.a4 | Level +0.24 | Play | |
| Showalter Variation | 5...a6 6.Nc3 | Level +0.27 | Play |
| Cordel Variation | 5.Bb2 | Black slightly better -0.43 | Play |
| Hirschbach Variation | 5.b5 Na5 6.Nxe5 Qg5 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| Hicken Variation | 7.Qf3 Qxe5 8.Qxf7+ Kd8 9.Bb2 | Black clearly better -1.54 | Play |
| Vasquez Variation | 7.Bxf7+ Ke7 8.Qh5 | Black slightly better -0.90 | Play |
| Lange Variation | 5.b5 Na5 6.Nxe5 Nh6 | Black slightly better -0.93 | Play |
| Pavlov Variation | 7.d4 d6 8.Bxh6 dxe5 9.Bxg7 Rg8 10.Bxf7+ Kxf7 11.Bxe5 Qg5 12.Nd2 | Black slightly better -0.76 | Play |
| Fontaine Countergambit | 4...b5 | White clearly better +1.39 | Play |
| Hein Countergambit | 4...d5 | White slightly better +0.37 | Play |
| Classical Variation | 4.c3 | Level +0.12 | Play |
| Closed Variation | 4...Qe7 | White slightly better +0.95 | Play |
| Center Holding Variation | 5.d4 Bb6 | White slightly better +0.89 | Play |
| Eisinger Variation | 6.d5 Nb8 7.d6 | White slightly better +0.49 | Play |
| Mestel Variation | 6.Bg5 | White slightly better +0.60 | Play |
| Tarrasch Variation | 6.O-O d6 7.a4 a6 8.h3 Nf6 9.Re1 | White slightly better +0.94 | Play |
| La Bourdonnais Variation | 4...d6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb6 | White slightly better +0.54 | Play |
| After 4...Nf6 | Level +0.14 | Play | |
| Bird's Attack | 5.b4 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| Center Attack | 5.d4 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| Greco Gambit, Dubov Italian | 5...exd4 6.b4 | Black slightly better -0.59 | Play |
| Greco Gambit, Modern Line | 5...exd4 6.e5 | Level -0.04 | Play |
| Ghulam-Kassim Variation | 6...Ne4 7.Bd5 Nxf2 8.Kxf2 dxc3+ 9.Kg3 | White clearly better +1.32 | Play |
| After 6...d5 | Level -0.01 | Play | |
| Anderssen Variation | 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb4+ | Level +0.27 | Play |
| Greco Gambit, Traditional Line | 5...exd4 6.cxd4 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| Giuoco Piano, Cracow Variation | 6...Bb4+ 7.Kf1 | Black slightly better -0.42 | Play |
| Giuoco Piano, Greco's Attack | 6...Bb4+ 7.Nc3 | Black slightly better -0.34 | Play |
| Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Greco Variation | 7...Nxe4 8.O-O Nxc3 | Level +0.09 | Play |
| Giuoco Piano, Aitken Variation | 9.bxc3 Bxc3 10.Ba3 | White clearly better +1.45 | Play |
| Giuoco Piano, Bernstein Variation | 9.bxc3 Bxc3 10.Qb3 d5 | White slightly better +0.77 | Play |
| Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Main Line | 7...Nxe4 8.O-O Bxc3 | Black slightly better -0.43 | Play |
| Moeller-Therkatz Attack | 9.d5 | Black slightly better -0.40 | Play |
| Moeller-Bayonet Attack | 9...Bf6 10.Re1 Ne7 11.Rxe4 d6 12.g4 | Black slightly better -0.61 | Play |
| Giuoco Piano, Therkatz-Herzog Variation | 9...Bf6 10.Re1 Ne7 11.Rxe4 d6 12.Bg5 Bxg5 13.Nxg5 O-O 14.Nxh7 | Black slightly better -0.62 | Play |
| Giuoco Piano, Steinitz Variation | 9.bxc3 d5 10.Ba3 | Black clearly better -1.28 | Play |
| Giuoco Piano, Krause Variation | 6...Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Nxe4 8.Bxb4 Nxb4 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.Qb3+ d5 11.Ne5+ Kf6 12.f3 | White slightly better +0.96 | Play |
| Scotch Gambit, Walbrodt-Baird Gambit | 5...exd4 6.O-O | Black slightly better -0.42 | Play |
| Giuoco Pianissimo | 5.d3 | Level +0.21 | Play |
| After 5...d6 | Level +0.25 | Play | |
| After 7.O-O | 6.Nbd2 O-O 7.O-O | Level +0.15 | Play |
| Albin Variation | 6.b4 | Level +0.12 | Play |
| With a6 | 6.Nbd2 a6 | Level +0.22 | Play |
| With a6 | 5...a6 | Level +0.18 | Play |
| With d5 | 5...d5 | White slightly better +0.78 | Play |
| Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo | 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 h6 6.c3 | Level +0.20 | Play |
| Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo | 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.c3 | Level +0.17 | Play |
| After 6...a5 | White slightly better +0.34 | Play | |
| After 6...a6 | Level +0.19 | Play | |
| After 7.a4 | Level +0.12 | Play | |
| After 7...Ba7 | White slightly better +0.32 | Play | |
| After 7...O-O | Level +0.16 | Play | |
| After 7.Re1 | Level +0.18 | Play | |
| After 7...Ba7 | Level +0.24 | Play | |
| After 6...Bb6 | Level +0.27 | Play | |
| After 6...O-O | Level +0.19 | Play | |
| Main Line | 7.Re1 a6 8.Bb3 Ba7 9.h3 | Level +0.17 | Play |
| With a4 a5 | 7.a4 a5 | Level +0.18 | Play |
| With h6 | 6...h6 | Level +0.18 | Play |
| After 7.Re1 | Level +0.17 | Play | |
| After 7.Nbd2 | Level +0.14 | Play | |
| Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo | 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.c3 d5 | White slightly better +0.33 | Play |
| Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with a5 | 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 a5 6.c3 | White slightly better +0.31 | Play |
Hungarian Defense: 3...Be7
White slightly better +0.54
Play this line| Line | Moves | Engine check (+ favours White) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tartakower Variation | 4.d4 exd4 5.c3 Nf6 6.e5 Ne4 | White slightly better +0.62 | Play |
Paris Defense: 3...d6
White slightly better +0.51
Play this lineRousseau Gambit: 3...f5
White clearly better +1.20
Play this lineTwo Knights Defense: 3...Nf6
Level +0.17
Play this line| Line | Moves | Engine check (+ favours White) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Giuoco Pianissimo | 4.O-O Bc5 5.Nc3 d6 6.d3 | Level +0.03 | Play |
| After 5...d5 | 4.Nc3 Nxe4 5.Nxe4 d5 | Level -0.12 | Play |
| Modern Bishop's Opening | 4.d3 | Level +0.15 | Play |
| Giuoco Pianissimo, Normal | 4...Bc5 | Level +0.15 | Play |
| Italian Four Knights Variation | 5.Nc3 | Level +0.13 | Play |
| Canal Variation | 5...d6 6.Bg5 | Level -0.11 | Play |
| After 4...Be7 | White slightly better +0.32 | Play | |
| After 5...d6 | 4...h6 5.O-O d6 | White slightly better +0.37 | Play |
| Open Variation | 4.d4 | Level +0.04 | Play |
| Scotch Gambit | 4...exd4 5.O-O | Level -0.26 | Play |
| Double Gambit Accepted | 5...Nxe4 | Level -0.03 | Play |
| Anderssen Attack | 6.Re1 d5 7.Bxd5 Qxd5 8.Nc3 | Level -0.16 | Play |
| Main Line | 8...Qa5 9.Nxe4 Be6 10.Bd2 Qd5 11.Bg5 | Level -0.03 | Play |
| Two Knights Defense, Yurdansky Attack | 8...Qa5 9.Nxe4 Be6 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 g5 12.Nf6+ Ke7 13.b4 | Black slightly better -0.57 | Play |
| Canal Variation | 6.Re1 d5 7.Nc3 | Black slightly better -0.88 | Play |
| Nakhmanson Gambit | 6.Nc3 | Black slightly better -0.71 | Play |
| Janowski Defense | 5...d6 | White slightly better +0.50 | Play |
| Max Lange Attack | 5...Bc5 | White slightly better +0.32 | Play |
| Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack | 6.e5 | Level +0.28 | Play |
| Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack Accepted | 6...d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.Re1+ Be6 9.fxg7 | Level +0.21 | Play |
| Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack, Long Variation | 6...d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.Re1+ Be6 9.Ng5 Qd5 10.Nc3 Qf5 11.Nce4 | White slightly better +0.34 | Play |
| Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Rubinstein Variation | 11...Bf8 | White slightly better +0.89 | Play |
| Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack, Spielmann Defense | 6...Ng4 | White slightly better +0.60 | Play |
| Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Krause Variation | 7.c3 | White slightly better +0.31 | Play |
| Berger Variation | 6...d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.Re1+ Be6 9.Ng5 Qd5 10.Nc3 Qf5 11.g4 Qg6 12.Nce4 Bb6 13.f4 O-O-O | White slightly better +0.38 | Play |
| Loman Defense | 6...d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.Re1+ Be6 9.Ng5 g6 | White slightly better +0.66 | Play |
| de Riviere Defense | 5...Be7 | White slightly better +0.45 | Play |
| Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack | 4...exd4 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| Two Knights Defense, Keidansky Variation | 7.Nxd4 Bc5 8.Nxc6 Bxf2+ 9.Kf1 Qh4 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| Scotch Invitation Declined | 4...d6 | White slightly better +0.87 | Play |
| Perreux Variation | 4...exd4 5.Ng5 | Black slightly better -0.72 | Play |
| Knight Attack | 4.Ng5 | Level +0.11 | Play |
| Normal Variation | 4...d5 | Level +0.25 | Play |
| Fried Liver Attack | 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Nxf7 | White slightly better +0.91 | Play |
| Fegatello Attack, Leonhardt Variation | 6...Kxf7 7.Qf3+ Ke6 8.Nc3 Nb4 9.Qe4 c6 10.a3 Na6 11.d4 Nc7 | Black slightly better -0.78 | Play |
| Fritz Variation | 5.exd5 Nd4 | White slightly better +0.73 | Play |
| Gruber Variation | 6.c3 b5 7.Bf1 Nxd5 8.Ne4 | White slightly better +0.33 | Play |
| Kloss Gambit | 5.exd5 Nb4 | White slightly better +0.73 | Play |
| Lolli Attack | 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.d4 | White slightly better +0.83 | Play |
| Pincus Variation | 6...Bb4+ | White clearly better +1.41 | Play |
| Ulvestad Variation | 5.exd5 b5 | White slightly better +0.53 | Play |
| Kurkin Gambit | 6.Bf1 h6 7.Nxf7 | White clearly better +1.24 | Play |
| Polerio Defense | 5.exd5 Na5 | Level +0.19 | Play |
| Bishop Check Line | 6.Bb5+ | Level +0.26 | Play |
| After 8.Be2 | 6...c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Be2 | Level -0.03 | Play |
| Polerio Defense, Suhle Defense | 8...h6 | Level -0.10 | Play |
| Knorre Variation | 9.Nf3 e4 10.Ne5 Bd6 11.d4 Qc7 12.Bd2 | Level +0.21 | Play |
| Göring Variation | 9.Nf3 e4 10.Ne5 Qc7 | White slightly better +0.36 | Play |
| Steinitz Variation | 9.Nh3 | Level -0.08 | Play |
| Bogoljubow Variation | 6...c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Qf3 | Level -0.07 | Play |
| Blackburne Variation | 8...cxb5 | Level -0.25 | Play |
| Colman Variation | 8...Rb8 | Level -0.07 | Play |
| Paoli Variation | 8...Qc7 9.Bd3 | White slightly better +0.48 | Play |
| Kieseritzky Variation | 6.d3 | Black slightly better -0.52 | Play |
| Maróczy Variation | 6...h6 7.Nf3 e4 8.Qe2 Nxc4 9.dxc4 Be7 | Level +0.18 | Play |
| Yankovich Variation | 6...h6 7.Nf3 e4 8.Qe2 Nxc4 9.dxc4 Bc5 10.Nfd2 | Black slightly better -0.75 | Play |
| Ponziani-Steinitz Gambit | 4...Nxe4 | White clearly better +1.63 | Play |
| Traxler Counterattack | 4...Bc5 | White clearly better +1.56 | Play |
| Bishop Sacrifice Line | 5.Bxf7+ | White slightly better +0.88 | Play |
| Traxler Variation, Trencianske-Teplice Gambit | 5...Ke7 6.d4 | Level +0.29 | Play |
| Knight Sacrifice Line | 5.Nxf7 | White clearly better +1.68 | Play |
| King March Line | 5...Bxf2+ 6.Kxf2 Nxe4+ 7.Ke3 | Level 0.00 | Play |