Library/Openings/Italian Game/Evans Gambit/McDonnell Defense/Main Line ECO C51
Opening· 16 plies

Italian Game: Evans Gambit, McDonnell Defense, Main Line

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C51), reached after 16 half-moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O d6 8. cxd4 Bb6.

Italian Game: Evans Gambit, McDonnell Defense, Main Line ECO C51
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Black rook
Black bishop
Black queen
Black king
Black knight
Black rook
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black bishop
Black knight
Black pawn
White bishop
White pawn
White pawn
White knight
White pawn
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White pawn
White pawn
White rook
White knight
White bishop
White queen
White rook
White king
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End of this line

No further variations branch from this position in our database. To explore neighbouring ideas:

About this opening

Italian Game: Evans Gambit, McDonnell Defense, Main Line is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code C51. ECO group C (C00–C99) covers open games (1.e4 e5) and the French Defence, including the Ruy Lopez, Italian, Scotch and King's Gambit. This particular variation is reached after 16 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O d6 8. cxd4 Bb6.

It belongs to the Italian Game family. Within that family this is a level-3 branch (the Evans Gambit → McDonnell Defense → Main Line line). The immediate parent line is Italian Game: Evans Gambit, McDonnell Defense, transitioned via 8…Bb6.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nc6, 3.Bc4 Bc5, 4.b4 Bxb4, 5.c3 Bc5, 6.d4 exd4. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.