Italian GameC51

Evans Gambit, McDonnell Defense

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5

Every move explained, never a dead end.

Both sides plans

White's plan

The c4-bishop eyes f7, Black's weakest point. The modern plan is patient: c3 and d3, castle, then the Nb1-d2-f1-g3 maneuver, and finally d4 when everything is ready. The slow Italian is a Spanish that owns it.

Black's plan

...Bc5 or ...Nf6 develop toward the center. Black mirrors the plan: ...d6, ...a6, ...Ba7, and prepare ...d5, the classical equalizer of every Italian game.

The line, move by move

1. e4e4 occupies the center.
... e5e5 occupies the center.
2. Nf3Nf3 develops the knight and controls d4 and e5.
... Nc6Nc6 develops the knight and controls d4 and e5.
3. Bc4Bc4 develops the bishop and controls d5.
... Bc5Bc5 develops the bishop and controls d4.
4. b4b4 attacks the bishop.
... Bxb4Bxb4 captures a pawn, pins an enemy piece against its king.
5. c3c3 attacks the bishop.
... Bc5Bc5 controls d4.

Open on the interactive board

Other major variations

The complete Italian Game guide See all 187 variations in the branch map