Caissa Codex
C51

Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Pavlov Variation

Chess diagram: Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Pavlov Variation after 12. Nd2

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Statistics from Lichess

11 games: White 63.6% / Draw 0.0% / Black 36.4%

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Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
1010
11

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026

Engine evaluation

−0.75 Black is better

Best play: 12... Bg4 13. Nf3 Qh5 14. Bg3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3+ Qxf3 16. gxf3 Bxd4 17. O-O-O

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

Overview

Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Pavlov Variation (ECO C51, Open Games) is a declined gambit in the Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Lange Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 5. b5 Na5 6. Nxe5 Nh6 7. d4 d6 8. Bxh6 dxe5 9. Bxg7 Rg8 10. Bxf7+ Kxf7 11. Bxe5 Qg5 12. Nd2 (12 moves).

In 11 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 63.6%, Black 36.4% and 0.0% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 12…Qxg2, in 91% of those games. That is too few games for the percentages to mean much.

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Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Pavlov Variation (C51)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/italian-game-evans-gambit-declined-pavlov-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/italian-game-evans-gambit-declined-pavlov-variation