Ponziani Opening

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3

ECO C44

The Ponziani Opening is a chess opening reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3, catalogued under code C44 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move c3 is chosen by White on move 3.

10 named continuations branch from this position, including the Caro Gambit and the Jaenisch Counterattack.

Named variations

• Ponziani Opening: Caro Gambit — ECO C44
• Ponziani Opening: Jaenisch Counterattack — ECO C44
• Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation — ECO C44
• Ponziani Opening: Neumann Gambit — ECO C44
• Ponziani Opening: Ponziani Countergambit — ECO C44
• Ponziani Opening: Romanishin Variation — ECO C44
• Ponziani Opening: Réti Variation — ECO C44
• Ponziani Opening: Spanish Variation — ECO C44
• Ponziani Opening: Steinitz Variation — ECO C44
• Ponziani Opening: Vukovic Gambit — ECO C44

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Scotch Opening 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.