Chess Openings Lab
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Italian Game: Rosentreter Gambit

The Rosentreter Gambit is 3...Bc5 4.d4, where White offers the d-pawn right away instead of preparing it with c3. White hopes for quick development and a pawn on e5, while Black can grab the pawn with a knight, the bishop or the e-pawn and keep a pleasant position.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d4
ECO
C50
Engine
−0.22 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
851 games in our lichess sample
White scores
52.7%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After 4...Nxd4 play Be3, then trade on d4 and push e5 to gain space and kick the queen.
  • Against 4...Bxd4, recapture with the knight, then use Be3 and Qh5 to hit f7 and e5.
  • After 4...exd4 transpose to known play with c3, cxd4 and Bd2 against the check on b4.
  • Castle quickly and keep the c4 bishop aimed at f7 while Black's king is still in the center.

Black

  • 4...Nxd4 is strong: meet Be3 with ...Qf6 and take back on d4 with the e-pawn.
  • Taking with ...Bxd4 also works; after Nxd4 Nxd4, retreat the knight to c6.
  • Watch out for Qh5 against f7, and answer it with ...Qe7 or ...Qf6.
  • Develop with ...Nf6 or ...Qg6 and castle short before opening more lines.

Plans and pawn structure

After 4...Nxd4 5.Be3 Qf6 6.Bxd4 exd4 7.e5 Qg6 Black keeps an extra pawn on d4, while White has space and a lead in development. White castles, plays Nbd2 or c3, and attacks the d4 pawn. Black wants ...d6 or ...Nh6, castling, and good squares for the bishops. In the ...exd4 line the game turns into a Classical Italian, where c3 and cxd4 give White a center and Black checks on b4.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.22: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.22 4...Nxd4 5.Be3 Qf6 6.Bxd4 exd4 7.e5
  2. −0.19 4...Bxd4 5.Nxd4 Nxd4 6.Be3 Nc6 7.Qh5
  3. 0.00 4...exd4 5.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

851 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.7%.

under 120060.9%
1200–159948.8%
1600–199950.8%
2000 and up64.7%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

As Black, take with 4...Nxd4 and answer Be3 with ...Qf6. Don't leave f7 weak: if White's queen comes to h5, cover the pawn with your own queen. Develop the rest of the pieces, castle short, and the extra pawn on d4 will tell in the long run.

Questions

What are the moves of the Italian Game: Rosentreter Gambit?

The Italian Game: Rosentreter Gambit starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d4. Its ECO code is C50.

Is the Italian Game: Rosentreter Gambit good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.22 at depth 20, which is level. In 851 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.7%. A practical surprise for White at club level, but Black is comfortable after 4...Nxd4 or 4...Bxd4 with sensible moves.

What is the main idea of the Italian Game: Rosentreter Gambit?

White gives a pawn with an early d4 to get fast development. Black can take with the knight or bishop and keep the pawn, while White plays Be3, e5 and Qh5 to gain time.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Nxd4, with Bxd4 and exd4 close behind. 4...Nxd4 removes White's central pawn, and after Be3 Qf6 Black keeps a pawn on d4.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.