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Italian Game

Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Anderssen Variation

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  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.Bc4Bc5
  4. 4.c3Nf6
  5. 5.d4exd4
  6. 6.e5d5
  7. 7.Bb5Ne4
  8. 8.cxd4Bb4+
1,806 games52%44%

Italian Game line in which Black meets 8. cxd4 with the check 8...Bb4+, Anderssen's choice, instead of the usual 8...Bb6; roughly level play follows.

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About the Anderssen Variation

Arising from the Modern Line of the Classical Italian (5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4), this variation has Black give the check 8...Bb4+ rather than retreat with the more common 8...Bb6. Adolf Anderssen played it frequently. White must block the check, usually with 9. Bd2 and less often with 9. Nbd2, developing a piece in either case. The engine considers the position roughly balanced, and White scores somewhat better online.

Popular continuations