Italian Game: Classical Variation, Center Holding Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
52,395 games: White 39.1% / Draw 4.4% / Black 56.5%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 26,93827K | ||
| 17,24117K | ||
| 2,9222,922 | ||
| Italian Game: Classical Variation, Mestel Variation | 2,3382,338 | |
| 1,1311,131 | ||
| 558558 | ||
| 242242 | ||
| 195195 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.94 White is better
Best play: 6. d5 Nd8 7. Bd3 d6 8. a4 a6 9. O-O Ba7 10. b4 Nf6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Italian Game: Classical Variation, Center Holding Variation (ECO C53, Open Games) is a variation of the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Closed Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Qe7 5. d4 Bb6 (5 moves).
In 52,395 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 39.1%, Black 56.5% and 4.4% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. O-O, in 51% of those games.
It branches into 3 named variations; the most played are Italian Game: Classical Variation, Mestel Variation and Italian Game: Classical Variation, Tarrasch Variation.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Center Holding Variation
The most played answer, 6. O-O, also scores best for White: 43.2%, with White winning 40.9% and Black 54.6% of 27K games. Of the main answers, 6. dxe5 scores lowest: 36.4%. Stockfish's first choice is 6. d5.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Variations (3)
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Italian Game: Classical Variation, Center Holding Variation (C53)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/italian-game-classical-variation-center-holding-variation