Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Laroche Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
14,047 games: White 54.7% / Draw 3.0% / Black 42.3%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 6,9966,996 | ||
| 3,5743,574 | ||
| 896896 | ||
| 841841 | ||
| 615615 | ||
| 611611 | ||
| 253253 | ||
| 109109 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
+2.34 White is clearly better
Best play: 7. dxe5 Ng4 8. Bg5 f6 9. exf6 gxf6 10. Bh4 d6 11. O-O Kf8
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Laroche Variation (ECO C52, Open Games) is a gambit in the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Main Line, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 Nf6 (6 moves).
In 14,047 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 54.7%, Black 42.3% and 3.0% were drawn. White's most played move here is 7. dxe5, in 50% 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, Laroche Variation
The most played answer, 7. dxe5, also scores best for White: 67.6%, with White winning 66.3% and Black 31.1% of 6,996 games. Of the main answers, 7. Qb3 scores lowest: 40.7%. Stockfish's first choice is also 7. dxe5.
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, Laroche Variation (C52)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/italian-game-evans-gambit-laroche-variation