Caissa Codex
C58

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Maróczy Variation

Chess diagram: Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Maróczy Variation after 9…Be7

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Statistics from Lichess

5,153 games: White 43.3% / Draw 4.9% / Black 51.9%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
2,8112,811
1,8821,882
205205
115115
4848
4848
1919
1111

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 7, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.22 The position is about equal

Best play: 10. Nd4 c6 11. Nc3 cxd5 12. Bf4 Bb4 13. Nb5 Bxc3+ 14. Nxc3 dxc4

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

Overview

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Maróczy Variation (ECO C58, Open Games) is a variation of the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Kieseritzky Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. d3 h6 7. Nf3 e4 8. Qe2 Nxc4 9. dxc4 Be7 (9 moves).

In 5,153 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 43.3%, Black 51.9% and 4.9% were drawn. White's most played move here is 10. Nd4, in 55% of those games.

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How to play against the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Maróczy Variation

The most played answer, 10. Nd4, also scores best for White: 50.9%, with White winning 48.6% and Black 46.8% of 2,811 games. Of the main answers, 10. Nfd2 scores lowest: 41.3%. Stockfish's first choice is also 10. Nd4.

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

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 6…h6 7. Nf3 e4 8. Qe2 Nxc4 9. dxc4 Be7, the position after Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Kieseritzky Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Maróczy Variation (C58)”. Lichess data as of 7 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/italian-game-two-knights-defense-maroczy-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/italian-game-two-knights-defense-maroczy-variation