Italian Game: Hungarian Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7

ECO C50

The Italian Game: Hungarian Defense is a chess opening line in the Italian Game complex, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7.

It is catalogued under code C50 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Be7 is chosen by Black on move 3.

One named continuation branches from this position: the Tartakower Variation.

Named variations

• Italian Game: Hungarian Defense, Tartakower Variation — ECO C50

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.