Chess Openings Lab
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

Italian Game: Classical Variation, Center Attack

The Center Attack is 3...Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4, where White pushes d4 at once and attacks the c5 bishop. Black should answer ...exd4, and after e5 counter with ...d5 and ...Ne4, while White hopes to win material against careless retreats.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4
ECO
C54
Engine
−0.13 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,225 games in our lichess sample
White scores
59.1%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Against ...exd4, push e5 to kick the f6 knight; after ...d5 pin with Bb5 and recapture cxd4.
  • If Black retreats ...Bb6, the e5 pawn falls: Nxe5 and dxe5 leave White a clean pawn up in the center.
  • Against ...Bd6, Bd5 and Ng5 punish the blocked bishop, and Black's e-pawn becomes a target.

Black

  • 5...exd4 is the engine's top choice; after e5, hit back with ...d5 and put the knight on e4.
  • After Bb5 and cxd4, drop the bishop to b6 and castle; the e4 knight is a strong outpost.
  • Never retreat with 5...Bb6 or 5...Bd6; both leave e5 hanging or block the d-pawn.

Plans and pawn structure

After 5...exd4 6.e5 d5, the center locks with a White pawn on e5 and Black's on d5. White castles and plays cxd4 to form a strong center, then looks for f3 or f4 to chase the e4 knight. Black supports the knight with ...f6 ideas and castles fast. If Black retreats the bishop at move five instead, White wins the e5 pawn and the game turns into a one-sided center.

Where the engine's main line heads: Carlsbad structure (after cxd5 exd5). The Carlsbad structure, from cxd5 exd5: White has d4 and no c-pawn, Black has c6 or c7 and d5 and no e-pawn.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.13: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.13 5...exd4 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4
  2. +0.83 5...Bb6 6.Nxe5 Nxe5 7.dxe5 d5 8.Bg5
  3. +1.92 5...Bd6 6.Bd5 Nxd5 7.exd5 e4 8.Ng5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,225 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 59.1%.

under 120053.7%
1200–159960.3%
1600–199960.6%
2000 and up57.5%

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

Where it goes next

How to play against it

As Black, take with 5...exd4. When White pushes e5, answer ...d5 and ...Ne4. Do not retreat the bishop with ...Bb6, which drops e5 after Nxe5, and never put it on d6, where it blocks the d-pawn and gets hit by Bd5.

Questions

What are the moves of the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Center Attack?

The Italian Game: Classical Variation, Center Attack starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4. Its ECO code is C54.

Is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Center Attack good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.13 at depth 20, which is level. In 1,225 lichess games from our sample, White scored 59.1%. A dangerous line for unprepared Black players; with ...exd4 and ...d5 Black is fine, but one slip gives White a big center.

What is the main idea of the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Center Attack?

White pushes d4 immediately to win time on the c5 bishop. Black must take on d4 and answer e5 with ...d5 and ...Ne4; any bishop retreat loses the e5 pawn or blocks the d-pawn.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is exd4, with Bb6 and Bd6 close behind. 5...exd4 is the only good reply, and after e5 the ...d5 and ...Ne4 counter keeps Black's pieces active.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.