Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Harding Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
166,777 games: White 52.7% / Draw 4.2% / Black 43.1%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 130,166130K | ||
| 10,67311K | ||
| 9,4069,406 | ||
| 7,1267,126 | ||
| 4,3654,365 | ||
| 1,3021,302 | ||
| 1,1391,139 | ||
| 831831 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026
Engine evaluation
−0.12 The position is about equal
Best play: 8... Bxd2+ 9. Qxd2 d6 10. O-O Nf6 11. Nc3 O-O 12. Rae1 Ne7 13. Bd3
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Harding Variation (ECO C51, Open Games) is a gambit in the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, McDonnell Defense, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. d4 exd4 7. cxd4 Bb4+ 8. Bd2 (8 moves).
In 166,777 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 52.7%, Black 43.1% and 4.2% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 8…Bxd2+, in 78% 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, Harding Variation
The most played answer, 8…Bxd2+, also scores best for Black: 46.3%, with Black winning 44.1% and White 51.6% of 130K games. Of the main answers, 8…Qe7 scores lowest: 40.9%. Stockfish's first choice is also 8…Bxd2+.
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, Harding Variation (C51)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/italian-game-evans-gambit-harding-variation