Tree path 10 levels King's Pawn Game › King's Knight Opening › Normal Variation › Italian Game › Giuoco Piano › Italian Game: Evans Gambit › Italian Game: Evans Gambit Accepted › Italian Game: Evans Gambit, McDonnell Defense › Main Line › Italian Game: Evans Gambit
Italian Game: Evans Gambit
Overview
Italian Game: Evans Gambit is a gambit, classified under ECO code C51 within the Open Games family. As with all gambits, one side sacrifices material early — usually a pawn — in exchange for development, open lines, or initiative.
The Open Games group covers open games — classical 1.e4 e5 openings where both sides contest the centre directly with pawns.
Play reaches this position via 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, after 18 plies of opening development.
It is a variation of Italian Game: Evans Gambit, McDonnell Defense, Main Line, which itself descends from the root opening King's Pawn Game.
It continues primarily into one named line, Fraser Attack.
In total, the branch covers 3 sub-variations across all depths.
Step through the moves on the interactive board below, review the live Lichess statistics, or play this position against Stockfish at one of six difficulty levels.
- ECO code
- C51
- Group
- Open Games (C)
- Plies
- 18
- Direct variations
- 1
- Total in subtree
- 3
This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.
Statistics from Lichess
14,009 games · White 46.7% / Draw 3.6% / Black 49.8%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| h3 | 3,000 | |
| Qb3 | 2,682 | |
| Bb5 | 2,082 | |
| Be3 | 1,981 | |
| Bxf7+ | 1,225 | |
| d5 | 758 | |
| Qd3 | 359 | |
| e5 | 352 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 03:20:04
Write a description
Markdown supported (headings ###, bold, lists, links).
Submissions are reviewed before publishing.