The Italian Gambit Line is a variation of the Hungarian Defense, catalogued as ECO C50. The line runs 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Be7 4. d4 d6 5. d5 Nb8 6. Bd3, reaching the position shown below after 11 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d5 and e4, Black on e5). Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is Black to move after six moves.
On the Hungarian Defense generally: A solid but passive response to the Italian Game. Black develops the bishop to e7 instead of the more active c5, aiming for a quiet positional game.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
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The Italian Gambit Line goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Be7 4. d4 d6 5. d5 Nb8 6. Bd3. It is a variation of the Hungarian Defense and is catalogued as ECO C50.
The Italian Gambit Line is ECO C50. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Hungarian Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Be7 4. d4 d6 5. d5 Nb8 6. Bd3 at +0.76 at depth 18, which is a small but real edge for White. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d5 and e4, Black on e5). Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is Black to move.