Chess Openings Lab
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Italian Game: Bird's Attack

Bird's Attack is 3...Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.b4 in the Italian Game, where White chases the c5 bishop with a pawn after Black has played ...Nf6. Black must pick a retreat square, and White aims to use b5 and a4 to gain queenside space and harass the c6 knight.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.b4
ECO
C53
Engine
−0.06 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
428 games in our lichess sample
White scores
48.4%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After ...Be7, play d3 and O-O; the push b5 later kicks the c6 knight away from the center.
  • Against ...Bb6, a4 threatens a5 to trap the bishop, so Black must answer with ...a5.
  • If Black chooses ...Bd6, d4 and quick castling hit the clumsy bishop, as the third engine line shows.

Black

  • Retreat with 5...Be7, the engine's top choice, then strike with ...d5 to open the center.
  • 5...Bb6 keeps the bishop aimed at f2; answer a4 with ...a5 so the bishop keeps a home.
  • Avoid 5...Bd6: the bishop blocks the d-pawn and White gets d4 with a clear edge.

Plans and pawn structure

White's b4 gains queenside space with tempo, but it also leaves c3 and c4 a little loose. If Black retreats to e7 and plays ...d5, the center opens and the b4 pawn can become a target. After ...Bb6, both sides push the a- and b-pawns, and White's b5 kicks the knight to e7 for a slow maneuvering game with Nbd2. Black castles short and uses ...d6 and ...Ne7 to reroute toward g6.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.06: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.06 5...Be7 6.d3 d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.O-O
  2. +0.08 5...Bb6 6.d3 d6 7.a4 a5 8.b5
  3. +0.88 5...Bd6 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O O-O 8.b5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

428 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 48.4%.

under 120050.0%
1200–159943.7%
1600–199952.7%

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

How to play against it

As Black, retreat the bishop to e7 and follow with ...d5 to hit e4. Grabbing the b4 pawn is risky; the simple retreat keeps a sound position. Avoid ...Bd6, which blocks your own d-pawn and lets White play d4 with tempo.

Questions

What are the moves of the Italian Game: Bird's Attack?

The Italian Game: Bird's Attack starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.b4. Its ECO code is C53.

Is the Italian Game: Bird's Attack good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.06 at depth 20, which is level. In 428 lichess games from our sample, White scored 48.4%. A sharp wing idea for White players who like space grabs, but Black is fine after a sensible retreat and ...d5.

What is the main idea of the Italian Game: Bird's Attack?

White uses b4 to chase the c5 bishop and gain queenside space. Black retreats to e7 and opens the center with ...d5, or keeps the bishop on b6 and meets a4 with ...a5.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Be7, with Bb6 and Bd6 close behind. 5...Be7 keeps the bishop safe and prepares ...d5, when White's b4 pawn can become a target.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.