Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined

The Evans Gambit Declined is 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bb6: instead of taking the pawn offered by the Evans Gambit, Black keeps the bishop on the a7–g1 diagonal. 4...Bb6 is the most common way to decline.

Does it lose a tempo?

Because of the wasted tempo, most commentators consider declining weaker than accepting the gambit and returning the pawn at a later stage. Aron Nimzowitsch argued in My System that declining does not lose a tempo, since b4 is a developmentally unproductive pawn move. He gave 5.b5 Nd4 as an example: if 6.Nxe5, then 6...Qg5 with a strong attack.

Main lines after 4...Bb6

• 5.a4 a6 is the most common continuation and often leads to the Showalter Variation, 6.Nc3. Black usually replies 6...Nf6 or 6...d6, and White seems to have a small advantage thanks to extra space on the queenside. 5...a5 is an alternative, but it allows 6.b5, kicking the knight.
• 5.b5 Na5 leads to various known lines, such as the Lange Variation, 6.Nxe5 Nh6. Black is considered to have the advantage, as White's attack is premature.
• White can also play 5.O-O, 5.c3 or 5.Bb2, the Cordel Variation.

Other ways to decline

4...d5, counterattacking the bishop on c4, is the Evans Countergambit. 4...Be7 is possible but passive.

The numbers

On Lichess Black wins 49.3% of the 531,869 games and White 47.0%. From 2200 up Black's lead grows to 51.7% against 42.1%. In 220 master games over the board Black won 38.2%, White 30.5%, and 31.4% were drawn.