Caissa Codex
C57

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Pincus Variation

Chess diagram: Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Pincus Variation after 6…Bb4+

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

1,801 games: White 64.9% / Draw 3.6% / Black 31.5%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
1,7491,749
3434
1717
11

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

Engine evaluation

+2.03 White is clearly better

Best play: 7. c3 f6 8. dxe5 fxg5 9. Bxd5 Be7 10. O-O Nxe5 11. Re1 Nf7

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

Overview

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Pincus Variation (ECO C57, Open Games) is a variation of the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Lolli Attack, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. d4 Bb4+ (6 moves).

In 1,801 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 64.9%, Black 31.5% and 3.6% were drawn. White's most played move here is 7. c3, in 97% of those games.

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Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Pincus Variation (C57)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/italian-game-two-knights-defense-pincus-variation

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