Italian Game: Classical Variation, Tarrasch Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
828 games: White 46.1% / Draw 5.7% / Black 48.2%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 468468 | ||
| 217217 | ||
| 9696 | ||
| 3131 | ||
| 44 | ||
| 44 | ||
| 22 | ||
| 22 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 25, 2026
Engine evaluation
+1.02 White is better
Best play: 9... O-O 10. b4 h6 11. d5 Nb8 12. a5 Ba7 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. Rxe3
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Italian Game: Classical Variation, Tarrasch Variation (ECO C53, Open Games) is a variation of the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Center Holding Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Qe7 5. d4 Bb6 6. O-O d6 7. a4 a6 8. h3 Nf6 9. Re1 (9 moves).
In 828 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 46.1%, Black 48.2% and 5.7% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 9…h6, in 57% of those games.
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, Tarrasch Variation
9…O-O scores best for Black: 55.3%, with Black winning 52.5% and White 41.9% of 217 games. The most played answer, 9…h6, scores lowest: 50.0% in 468 games. Stockfish's first choice is also 9…O-O.
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
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Italian Game: Classical Variation, Tarrasch Variation (C53)”. Lichess data as of 25 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/italian-game-classical-variation-tarrasch-variation