C51 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Fontaine Countergambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 b5
♜♝♛♚♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♞♟♝♟♟♝♟♞♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♞♝♛♚♜
The position after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 b5, White to move.

In the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Fontaine Countergambit, aim to understand the plans and pawn structures, not just memorize the first moves.

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The Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Fontaine Countergambit is a chess opening classified under ECO code C51. It is reached after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 b5: 8 moves in, with White to play.

It belongs to the Italian Game family — one of many ways the line can branch. Understanding the parent system’s plans is the fastest way to play this variation well.

Club players rarely lose the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Fontaine Countergambit in the opening itself. They lose it a few moves later, when the plan behind the moves runs out: that is what reading your own games in this line shows you.

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