Tree path 6 levels King's Pawn Game › King's Knight Opening › Normal Variation › Italian Game › Two Knights Defense › Open Variation
C56

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Open Variation

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Overview

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Open Variation is a named branch in the Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO C56.

The Open Games group covers open games — classical 1.e4 e5 openings where both sides contest the centre directly with pawns.

The line arises from 7 plies — specifically the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4.

In the opening tree, this line branches off from Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, part of the broader King's Pawn Game system.

2 named variations grow from this line, including Italian Game: Scotch Invitation Declined, Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Dubois Réti Defense.

Together the deeper variations number 14 across the full subtree.

Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.

ECO code
C56
Group
Open Games (C)
Plies
7
Parent
Italian Game: Two Knights Defense
Direct variations
2
Total in subtree
14

This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. A more detailed, human-written description is on the way — and you can speed it up by suggesting one yourself.

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Variations (2)

Show all 14 sub-variations (full subtree)