Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Harding Variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Bc5 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 Bb4+ 8.Bd2

ECO C51

The Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Harding Variation is a chess opening line in the Italian Game complex, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Bc5 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 Bb4+ 8.Bd2.

It is catalogued under code C51 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Bd2 is chosen by White on move 8.

The Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Harding Variation is a line of the Italian Game. The Italian Game is a chess opening that begins 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4. Read the complete Italian Game guide: what it is, how to reach it, its main variations, how to play against it, and its history.

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Evans Gambit 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.