Italian Game: Classical Variation, Center Holding Variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Qe7 5.d4 Bb6

ECO C53

The Italian Game: Classical Variation, Center Holding Variation is a chess opening line in the Italian Game complex, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Qe7 5.d4 Bb6.

It is catalogued under code C53 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Bb6 is chosen by Black on move 5.

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Beat the Italian course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.