Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack, Normal Variation
The Normal Variation is 4.Ng5 d5, where Black blocks the c4 bishop's path to f7 with a central pawn. White should take with exd5, after which Black plays ...Na5 and gives a pawn for time; other White moves lose the thread quickly.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5
- ECO
- C57
- Engine
- +0.01 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 3,418 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 54.3%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Play exd5 now. Bb5 and Bb3 both let Black win material or the initiative in the engine lines.
- After ...Na5, check with Bb5+ and after ...c6 and the trade on c6, drop the bishop back to d3.
- Keep the extra pawn by bringing the knight back to f3 and castling soon.
- Watch the d5 pawn: if Black recaptures it with a knight, Nxf7 becomes an option.
Black
- After exd5, play ...Na5 to hit the c4 bishop instead of recapturing with the knight.
- Follow with ...c6 and ...bxc6, opening the b-file for a rook and gaining central space.
- Use ...Nd5 and ...Bd6 to centralize pieces while White's knight sits on g5.
- If White strays with Bb3, take on e4 with the knight; after Qh5, ...g6 and ...Bf5 keep Black on top.
Plans and pawn structure
After exd5 Na5 the position is a classic gambit. White is a pawn up, but the bishop must spend moves on Bb5+ and Bd3 while the knight on g5 is offside. Black develops with ...c6, ...Nd5, ...Bd6 and castling, and later pushes ...e4 to gain space. White's plan is to consolidate with Nf3, short castling and d3, then return the pawn if needed. Whoever wins the race for development usually decides the game.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.01: level. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.01 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6
- −1.73 5.Bb5 Bc5 6.exd5 Qxd5 7.O-O Bxf2+
- −1.97 5.Bb3 Nxe4 6.Nxe4 dxe4 7.Qh5 g6
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
3,418 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 54.3%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense5.exd5 · 5,678 games
- Two Knights Defense, Knorre Variation5.exd5 · rare
How to play against it
As White, take on d5 at once. After ...Na5, play Bb5+ and then Bd3, and be ready to defend the bishop and knight against ...h6 and ...e4. Do not retreat the bishop to b3 or pin with Bb5 before taking, as both hand Black a big lead.
Questions
What are the moves of the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack, Normal Variation?
The Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack, Normal Variation starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5. Its ECO code is C57.
Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack, Normal Variation good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.01 at depth 20, which is level. In 3,418 lichess games from our sample, White scored 54.3%. The main road of the Two Knights for both sides, demanding that White know exd5 and Bb5+ and that Black play for activity.
What is the main idea of the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack, Normal Variation?
Black gives up the d5 pawn to stop the attack on f7 and develop with tempo. After exd5 Na5, Black chases the bishop and builds a lead in development.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is exd5, with Bb5 and Bb3 close behind. exd5 takes the pawn; the alternatives Bb5 and Bb3 lose material or time in the engine lines.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.