Caissa Codex
C57

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Ulvestad Variation, Kurkin Gambit

Chess diagram: Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Ulvestad Variation, Kurkin Gambit after 7. Nxf7

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Statistics from Lichess

1,886 games: White 46.6% / Draw 4.7% / Black 48.7%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
1,8611,861
2323
11
11

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026

Engine evaluation

+1.33 White is better

Best play: 7... Kxf7 8. dxc6 Be6 9. Be2 Bc5 10. O-O Rf8 11. Nc3 b4 12. Na4

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

Overview

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Ulvestad Variation, Kurkin Gambit (ECO C57, Open Games) is a gambit in the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Ulvestad Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 b5 6. Bf1 h6 7. Nxf7 (7 moves).

In 1,886 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 46.6%, Black 48.7% and 4.7% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 7…Kxf7, in 99% of those games.

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Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Ulvestad Variation, Kurkin Gambit (C57)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/italian-game-two-knights-defense-ulvestad-variation-kurkin-gambit

https://chesscodex.org/openings/italian-game-two-knights-defense-ulvestad-variation-kurkin-gambit