Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Steinitz Variation
Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Steinitz Variation (C59) starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Be2 h6 9.Nh3. In 81 games between strong players, White wins 43%, 11% are drawn and Black wins 46%; the most played move is 9…Bd6 (33%).
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Be2 h6 9.Nh3
- ECO
- C59
- Games between strong players
- 81
- To move
- Black
White wins, draws and Black wins, from this position.
What strong players play next
The moves played most from this position in over-the-board broadcasts and the Lichess Elite Database, how often, and how the games ended.
| Move | Played | Results | Leads to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9…Bd6 | 33% (27) | – | |
| 9…Bc5 | 32% (26) | – | |
| 9…g5 | 11% (9) | – | |
| 9…Be7 | 9% (7) | – | |
| 9…Bxh3 | 9% (7) | – |
Where it comes from and where it goes
Branches from Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Suhle Defense 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Be2 h6
More Italian Game lines
- Italian Game 37,217 games
- Italian Game: Two Knights Defense 18,433 games
- Italian Game: Giuoco Piano 16,352 games
- Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening 13,374 games
- Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Normal 10,039 games
- Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo 7,467 games
- Italian Game: Classical Variation 7,003 games
- Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo 3,667 games
- Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack 3,250 games
- Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack, Normal Variation 3,093 games
- Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense 2,567 games
- Italian Game: Classical Variation, Center Attack 2,526 games
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