The Open, Italian Variation is a variation of the Ruy Lopez, catalogued as ECO C82. The line runs 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Bc5, reaching the position shown below after 18 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on e5, Black on d5). Black is ahead in development, with four minor pieces out to White's two. It is White to move after nine moves. White has castled while Black’s king is still uncommitted.
On the Ruy Lopez generally: One of the oldest and most classical openings. White develops rapidly and puts pressure on Black's center.
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 Open, Italian Variation goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Bc5. It is a variation of the Ruy Lopez and is catalogued as ECO C82.
The Open, Italian Variation is ECO C82. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Ruy Lopez.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Bc5 at +0.23 at depth 18, which is balanced. 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 e5, Black on d5). Black is ahead in development, with four minor pieces out to White's two. It is White to move. White has castled while Black’s king is still uncommitted.