Italian Game: Evans Gambit Accepted

Italian Game: Evans Gambit Accepted is a chess opening with the ECO code C51, part of the Italian Game family. It goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e5. After 8 moves it is White to move. After the last move Black is a pawn ahead in material. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

• 1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
• 1... e5 – Black plays the pawn to e5
• 2. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
• 2... Nc6 – Black plays the knight to c6
• 3. Bc4 – White plays the bishop to c4
• 3... Bc5 – Black plays the bishop to c5
• 4. b4 – White plays the pawn to b4
• 4... Bxb4 – Black takes on b4 with the bishop

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 5. c3.

About the Italian Game

After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6, White plays 3.Bc4, aiming the bishop at the weak f7 pawn. It teaches quick development and fast castling.

• The quiet plan is c3, d3, O-O and later d4 to build a strong centre.
• f7 is guarded only by the king, so watch for Ng5 and Qh5 tricks.
• Black can reply 3...Bc5 (Giuoco Piano) or 3...Nf6 (Two Knights), both sound choices.

chessGM has a full course for this line: open the Italian Game: Evans Gambit Accepted course lesson.

Related openings

• It extends: Italian Game: Evans Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4)
• Continues with: Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Anderssen Variation – adds 5. c3 Be7
• Continues with: Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Mayet Defense – adds 5. c3 Bf8
• Continues with: Italian Game: Evans Gambit, McDonnell Defense – adds 5. c3 Bc5
• Continues with: Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Stone-Ware Variation – adds 5. c3 Bd6
• Continues with: Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Main Line – adds 5. c3 Ba5
• Related line: Italian Game: Evans Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O d6 8. cxd4 Bb6 9. Nc3 Bg4)
• Related line: Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6)
• Related line: Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 5. a4)
• Related line: Italian Game: Rousseau Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 f5)
• Related line: Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Cordel Variation (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 5. Bb2)
• Related line: Italian Game: Rosentreter Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d4)

Browse every named opening · Opening courses