Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5

ECO C58

The Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense is a chess opening line in the Italian Game complex, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5.

It is catalogued under code C58 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Na5 is chosen by Black on move 5.

6 named continuations branch from this position, including the Bishop Check Line and the Bogoljubow Variation.

Named variations

• Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Bishop Check Line — ECO C58
• Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Bogoljubow Variation — ECO C58
• Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Kieseritzky Variation — ECO C58
• Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Yankovich Variation — ECO C58
• Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Göring Variation — ECO C59
• Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Suhle Defense — ECO C59

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Fried Liver Attack 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.