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, Main Line
The Evans Gambit arises after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5. In this variation, White offers a pawn early on with 4.b4 to gain rapid development and control over the center. Black accepts the gambit pawn, and by retreating the bishop to a5, Black maintains pressure along the long diagonal.
Characteristic of this move: The key characteristic of 5...Ba5 is that Black keeps the bishop active and avoids exchanging it prematurely, which helps maintain defensive resources while keeping an eye on the center and White's potential threats.
Attacking or Defensive: White plays aggressively in this opening, aiming to seize the initiative with quick development and central control. Black’s move 5...Ba5 is somewhat defensive, aiming to consolidate the extra pawn while avoiding immediate tactical problems and keeping the bishop on an active diagonal.
Center control: The Evans Gambit is very much about attacking the center. White uses the gambit pawn to accelerate development and challenge Black’s hold on the center squares, aiming for dynamic play and open lines.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Main Line, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 14 - Move #8 black
You can also discover how top players used Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Main Line to leverage key strategies to secure victories in these classic matchups.