Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Fontaine Countergambit
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Statistics from Lichess
1,485 games: White 73.4% / Draw 2.8% / Black 23.8%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 659659 | ||
| 558558 | ||
| 103103 | ||
| 6666 | ||
| 5555 | ||
| 3838 | ||
| 33 | ||
| 22 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 8, 2026
Engine evaluation
+1.95 White is clearly better
Best play: 5. Bxf7+ Kxf7 6. bxc5 Nf6 7. c3 Re8 8. a4 bxa4 9. Qxa4 Kg8
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Fontaine Countergambit (ECO C51, Open Games) is a gambit in the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 b5 (4 moves).
In 1,485 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 73.4%, Black 23.8% and 2.8% were drawn. White's most played move here is 5. Bxf7+, in 44% 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, Fontaine Countergambit
The most played answer, 5. Bxf7+, also scores best for White: 79.0%, with White winning 77.5% and Black 19.6% of 659 games. Of the main answers, 5. bxc5 scores lowest: 62.6%. Stockfish's first choice is also 5. Bxf7+.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White'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, Fontaine Countergambit (C51)”. Lichess data as of 8 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/italian-game-evans-gambit-fontaine-countergambit