Caissa Codex
C54

Italian Game: Classical Variation, Ghulam-Kassim Variation

Chess diagram: Italian Game: Classical Variation, Ghulam-Kassim Variation after 9. Kg3

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

5,881 games: White 55.2% / Draw 3.7% / Black 41.1%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
3,1813,181
1,0711,071
747747
439439
154154
133133
5959
3434

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 27, 2026

Engine evaluation

+1.68 White is clearly better

Best play: 9... cxb2 10. Bxb2 d6 11. Bxc6+ bxc6 12. Nbd2 Bb6 13. Qc2 O-O 14. a4

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Italian Game: Classical Variation, Ghulam-Kassim Variation (ECO C54, Open Games) is a variation of the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Modern Line, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 Ne4 7. Bd5 Nxf2 8. Kxf2 dxc3+ 9. Kg3 (9 moves).

In 5,881 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 55.2%, Black 41.1% and 3.7% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 9…cxb2, in 54% of those games.

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How to play against the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Ghulam-Kassim Variation

The most played answer, 9…cxb2, also scores best for Black: 46.4%, with Black winning 44.2% and White 51.4% of 3,181 games. Of the main answers, 9…h5 scores lowest: 31.9%. Stockfish's first choice is also 9…cxb2.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 6…Ne4 7. Bd5 Nxf2 8. Kxf2 dxc3+ 9. Kg3, the position after Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Modern Line also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Italian Game: Classical Variation, Ghulam-Kassim Variation (C54)”. Lichess data as of 27 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/italian-game-classical-variation-ghulam-kassim-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/italian-game-classical-variation-ghulam-kassim-variation