Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Ulvestad Variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 b5

ECO C57

The Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Ulvestad Variation 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 b5.

It is catalogued under code C57 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move b5 is chosen by Black on move 5.

One named continuation branches from this position: the Kurkin Gambit.

Named variations

• Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Ulvestad Variation, Kurkin Gambit — ECO C57

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.