Ponziani Opening: Caro Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 d5 4.Qa4 Bd7

ECO C44

The Ponziani Opening: Caro Gambit is a chess opening line in the Ponziani Opening complex, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 d5 4.Qa4 Bd7.

It is catalogued under code C44 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Bd7 is chosen by Black on move 4.

The Ponziani Opening: Caro Gambit is a line of the Ponziani Opening. The Ponziani Opening is a chess opening that begins 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3. Read the complete Ponziani Opening guide: what it is, how to reach it, its main variations, how to play against it, and its history.

More ECO C44 openings

• Dresden Opening: The Goblin — 1.e4
• Irish Gambit — 1.e4
• King's Knight Opening — 1.e4
• King's Pawn Game — 1.e4
• Latvian Gambit — 1.e4
• Scotch Game — 1.e4

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.