Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Showalter Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
12,944 games: White 47.9% / Draw 4.8% / Black 47.3%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 6,6076,607 | ||
| 4,6264,626 | ||
| 897897 | ||
| 206206 | ||
| 196196 | ||
| 124124 | ||
| 8282 | ||
| 6262 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.15 The position is about equal
Best play: 6... Nf6 7. O-O O-O 8. a5 Ba7 9. d3 h6 10. h3 d6 11. Rb1
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, Showalter Variation (ECO C51, Open Games) is a declined gambit in the Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 5. a4 a6 6. Nc3 (6 moves).
In 12,944 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.9%, Black 47.3% and 4.8% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 6…d6, in 51% 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: Evans Gambit Declined, Showalter Variation
The most played answer, 6…d6, also scores best for Black: 50.7%, with Black winning 48.1% and White 46.8% of 6,607 games. Of the main answers, 6…Nxb4 scores lowest: 44.9%. Stockfish's first choice is 6…Nf6.
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: Evans Gambit Declined, Showalter Variation (C51)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/italian-game-evans-gambit-declined-showalter-variation