Chess Openings Lab
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Ulvestad Variation

The Ulvestad Variation is 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 b5, a pawn offer that deflects the c4 bishop from guarding d5. White should retreat with Bf1 or Be2 rather than take, while Black hopes to win back d5 with the queen and gain development time.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 b5
ECO
C57
Engine
+0.51 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
805 games in our lichess sample
White scores
45.8%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Retreat Bf1, the engine's top choice, so after ...Qxd5 the knight comes to c3 with tempo.
  • Then take on b5 with the bishop and play d3 and castling to keep a healthy extra pawn.
  • The Be2 retreat allows ...Nd4; meet it with Nf3 and trade knights on d4.
  • Taking with Bxb5 at once is playable but gives Black ...Qxd5 hitting g2 and b5 together.

Black

  • After Bf1, recapture ...Qxd5 and move the queen to c5 when Nc3 attacks it.
  • Against Be2, play ...Nd4 to pressure the knight and win back d5 with the queen.
  • Develop with ...Be7 and ...O-O and use the e5 pawn to gain space with ...e4.
  • After Bxb5 Qxd5, look at ...e4 and ...h6 ideas against White's queen and knight.

Plans and pawn structure

After Bf1 Qxd5, White's bishop has gone home but White keeps the extra pawn once Bxb5 lands. White's plan is Nc3, Bxb5, d3 and castling, then pressure on Black's center. Black's plan is quick development with ...Be7 and castling, using the open d-file and e-file. In the Be2 line, Black plays ...Nd4 and recovers the pawn with a comfortable game. In this sample White scored 45.8%, so knowing the right retreat matters.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.51: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.51 6.Bf1 Qxd5 7.Nc3 Qc5 8.Bxb5 Be7
  2. +0.17 6.Be2 Nd4 7.Nf3 Qxd5 8.Nxd4 exd4
  3. +0.11 6.Bxb5 Qxd5 7.Bxc6+ Qxc6 8.Qf3 e4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

805 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 45.8%.

under 120051.3%
1200–159940.7%
1600–199948.3%
2000 and up45.1%

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

Where it goes next

  • Two Knights Defense, Ulvestad Variation, Kurkin Gambit6.Bf1 · rare

How to play against it

As White, do not grab b5 automatically. Retreat Bf1 and develop with Nc3 and Bxb5 later, keeping a clean extra pawn. Watch the queen on d5, which attacks g2 and your knights. Castle fast and keep the knight from being trapped on g5.

Questions

What are the moves of the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Ulvestad Variation?

The Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Ulvestad Variation starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 b5. Its ECO code is C57.

Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Ulvestad Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.51 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 805 lichess games from our sample, White scored 45.8%. A tricky sideline for Black players who like surprises, and White needs to know the Bf1 retreat to stay better.

What is the main idea of the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Ulvestad Variation?

Black offers the b5 pawn to deflect White's bishop from the d5 pawn. After the bishop retreats, ...Qxd5 wins back material and Black develops quickly.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Bf1, with Be2 and Bxb5 close behind. Bf1 avoids ...Nd4 tricks and prepares Nc3 with tempo on the black queen after ...Qxd5.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.