Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined
The Evans Gambit Declined is 4...Bb6, where Black refuses the b4 pawn and keeps the bishop on its diagonal toward f2. White's b4 pawn now gains queenside space, and a4-a5 can harass the bishop, while Black plans ...a6, ...Nf6 and ...d6.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bb6
- ECO
- C51
- Engine
- +0.29 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 620 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 48.1%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Push a4 to threaten a5, which attacks the b6 bishop and can trap it without a retreat square.
- Play b5 to kick the c6 knight, gaining space and loosening Black's grip on d4 and e5.
- Develop with O-O, c3 and d3, keeping a compact center and preparing a later d4 break.
Black
- Play ...a6 to give the bishop a retreat square on a7, so a5 does not trap it.
- Develop ...Nf6 and ...d6, castle short, and keep the bishop on the a7-g1 diagonal.
- Answer b5 with ...Nd4 or ...Na5, choosing active squares rather than retreating to b8.
Plans and pawn structure
With the gambit declined, White has queenside space and Black has a sound Italian setup. White plays a4, c3 and d3, aiming for a later d4 that would open the center. Black plays ...a6, ...Nf6, ...d6 and ...O-O, keeping the bishop on b6 and pressure on f2. The game becomes a slow Italian structure with an extra queenside space edge for White.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.29: level. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.29 5.a4 a6 6.d3 Nf6 7.O-O d6
- +0.27 5.O-O a6 6.c3 Nf6 7.d3 d6
- +0.14 5.c3 Nf6 6.d3 d6 7.a4 a5
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
620 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 48.1%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Evans Gambit Declined, Cordel Variation5.Bb2 · rare
- Evans Gambit Declined, Showalter Variation5.a4 · rare
- Evans Gambit Declined, Pavlov Variation5.b5 · rare
How to play against it
For White: use a4 and b5 to gain queenside space and harass the bishop. Don't push d4 too early; build with c3 and d3 first. Keep the c4 bishop safe from ...Na5 trades if you want to keep pressure on f7.
Other lines with this name
The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bb6 5.a4.
Questions
What are the moves of the Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined?
The Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bb6. Its ECO code is C51.
Is the Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.29 at depth 20, which is level. In 620 lichess games from our sample, White scored 48.1%. Solid and practical for Black; White gets a slight space edge and an easy plan.
What is the main idea of the Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined?
Black declines the gambit with ...Bb6 and keeps the bishop aiming at f2. White uses the b4 pawn for queenside space, often with a4.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is a4, with O-O and c3 close behind. a4 threatens a5 against the bishop and grabs queenside space.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.