Caissa Codex
C52

Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Johner Defense

Chess diagram: Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Johner Defense after 7…b5

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Statistics from Lichess

172 games: White 50.0% / Draw 5.2% / Black 44.8%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
133133
2727
66
55
11

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

Engine evaluation

+1.37 White is better

Best play: 8. Bxb5 Nge7 9. cxd4 Bb6 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Bg5 f6 12. Be3 Na5

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

Overview

Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Johner Defense (ECO C52, Open Games) is a gambit in the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Pierce Defense, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O b5 (7 moves).

In 172 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 50.0%, Black 44.8% and 5.2% were drawn. White's most played move here is 8. Bxb5, in 77% of those games.

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Other lines from the same position

Instead of 7. O-O b5, the position after Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Pierce Defense also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Johner Defense (C52)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/italian-game-evans-gambit-johner-defense

https://chesscodex.org/openings/italian-game-evans-gambit-johner-defense