This opening is defined by the position shown on the board below. The moves displayed are a typical sequence that leads to it, but different sequences can reach the same position and still carry the same opening name.
Italian Game: Evans Gambit
The Evans Gambit arises after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4. This bold pawn sacrifice is designed to deflect Black's bishop from the strong c5-square and accelerate White's development.
Characteristic: The key feature of the Evans Gambit is the early pawn thrust 4. b4, offering a pawn to gain time and open lines for rapid piece activity, especially targeting the center and Black's kingside.
Attacking or Defensive: When playing as White, this is a highly aggressive, attacking opening aiming for quick initiative. Black, on the other hand, must be cautious and often adopts defensive measures to neutralize White's pressure.
Center Control: Although White initially sacrifices a wing pawn, the gambit supports strong control of the center through rapid development and central pawn advances, making the fight for the center a key theme.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 50 - Move #6 black
You can also discover how top players used Italian Game: Evans Gambit to leverage key strategies to secure victories in these classic matchups.