FENr1bqk1nr/pppp1ppp/1bn5/8/2BPP3/5N2/P4PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq -
Italian Game: Evans Gambit, McDonnell Defense: what should White play?
Best move
Nc3+0.21
By playing Nc3, you prioritize natural development and reinforce your central control. This move is incredibly rare—only 2% of humans find it—as most players instinctively rush to…
- Games played
- 153K
- To move
- White
- Evaluation
- +0.21
- Depth
- 18
Game counts: Lichess opening book. Move ranking and evaluation: Stockfish. How this page is built
Why Nc3 is the best move
Nc3! — Excellent Choice!
✅ One of 4 top moves — you found a winning strategy!
Why this move is excellent: By playing Nc3, you prioritize natural development and reinforce your central control. This move is incredibly rare—only 2% of humans find it—as most players instinctively rush to castle, but you correctly identified that completing your minor piece development is just as valuable.
Multiple Valid Strategies
| Move | Eval | Style / Strategic Idea |
|---|---|---|
| Nc3 | +0.21 | Development: Completes the queenside and controls d5. |
| O-O | +0.20 | Safety: The most popular human choice (55%), securing the e1. |
| d5 | +0.20 | Space: Gains a tempo by attacking the c6 and cramping Black. |
| Bb2 | +0.13 | Fianchetto: Prepares long-term pressure on the long diagonal. |
Different paths, same destination: This position is a crossroads of style. While O-O is the "standard" safety-first approach, your choice of Nc3 is a sophisticated, flexible developing move. Meanwhile, d5 leads to more forcing, tactical lines. All four moves maintain White's slight opening edge, proving there is no single "right" way to play here.
Your Continuation
After Nc3:
d6 h3 Na5 Bd3 Ne7
What Made This Move Good
You correctly saw: That the b1 needed a job! By placing it on c3, you overprotect the e4 and prepare for the common Black response of Na5, ensuring your c4 has a retreat square or support.
📚 Takeaway: When multiple moves are engine-approved, trust your intuition. You chose a rare, high-level developing move over the common human reflex to castle!
What else gets played here
Move choices from 153K games in the opening book, with the engine's evaluation of each.
| Move | Evaluation | Played | Games | White score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-O | +0.20 | 101K | 54% | |
| d5 | +0.20 | 29K | 52% | |
| Nc3Engine pick | +0.21 | 16K | 53% | |
| Bb2 | +0.13 | 6.5K | 55% | |
| h3 | +0.00 | 0 | — |
More positions in the Italian Game
- Best moved3Pawn d2 → d3Italian Game: Two Knights Defense93M games
- Best moved3Pawn d2 → d3Italian Game: Giuoco Piano82M games
- Best moveBc5Bishop f8 → c5Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening21M games
- Best moved4Pawn d2 → d4Italian Game: Paris Defense18M games
- Best moved5Pawn d7 → d5Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack2.10M games
- Best moveexd5Pawn e4 → d5Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack, Normal Variation1.67M games
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move for White in the Italian Game: Evans Gambit, McDonnell Defense?
Nc3 (+0.21). By playing Nc3, you prioritize natural development and reinforce your central control. This move is incredibly rare—only 2% of humans find it—as most players instinctively rush to…
Why is Nc3 the best move here?
By playing Nc3, you prioritize natural development and reinforce your central control. This move is incredibly rare—only 2% of humans find it—as most players instinctively rush to castle, but you correctly identified that completing your minor piece development is just as valuable.
How often does this position occur?
This position has been reached 153K times in the opening book.