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Evans Gambit report from your own games

Evans Gambit report from your own games

Romantic gambit with b4. See if your attack delivers.

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Evans Gambit Report

42 GAMESSample Data
Win Rate
55%

Performance vs Other Openings

Evans Gambit55% Win
Other Openings47% Win

Key Insights

Your sacrificed b4 pawn generates sustained initiative that consistently produces wins
white

Gambit Pawn Initiative Converts at 60% in Accepted Lines

What this means
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4, you sacrifice a pawn for rapid development and center control, and in your 20 Accepted Main Line games this strategy pays off handsomely. You achieve full piece development by move 9 in 16 of 20 games, averaging 1.8 tempi ahead of your opponent. Your initiative converts into kingside attacks in 12 of your wins, typically via the open b-file, the strong Bc4 diagonal, and rapid O-O followed by d4-d5 breaks. Game #67 is textbook: after 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O d6 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.Nc3, you had every piece developed while Black's kingside was still dormant. You broke through with Nd5 on move 14 and won by move 23.
How to improve
Your Evans Gambit Accepted play is a core strength — maintain it as your primary weapon in the Italian Game complex. To push your conversion rate even higher, study the critical 7...Nge7 defense (Lasker's recommended line), which is the toughest test. After 7...Nge7, the plan shifts to Ng5 targeting f7 or Bg5 pinning the knight. Also prepare for the modern 5...Be7 retreat, which gives back the pawn for solid development — in these lines, your temporary initiative is smaller, so switch to positional play with d4, Nc3, and Re1.
#gambit#initiative#strengths
When Black declines the gambit, your piece advantage fails to translate into concrete threats
white
High Impact

Development Lead Wasted in 50% of Declined Variation Games

What this means
In your 12 Declined Variation games (where Black plays ...Bb6 instead of capturing on b4), you still achieve a small development lead thanks to the space gained by b4-b5, but your win rate drops to 50% — significantly below your 60% in the Accepted. The issue is strategic: after 4.b4 Bb6 5.a4 a6, the position becomes more positional than tactical, and your attacking instincts misfire. In 6 of 12 games, you launched premature kingside attacks (h4, g4 pushes) instead of building slowly with d3, Nc3, Nd5. Game #183 shows the pattern: you pushed g4 on move 11 in a position that called for Nd5, weakening your own king while Black calmly developed and counterattacked in the center.
How to improve
When Black declines the Evans, shift your mental approach from 'attack mode' to 'build mode.' The Declined Variation requires patient positional play: aim for d3, Nc3, Nd5 to pressure the c7 and e7 squares. The b5 pawn advance is useful for gaining queenside space, but only after your center is stable. Do not push kingside pawns unless Black has castled kingside and your pieces are all coordinated. Study Kasparov's Evans Gambit games — he was brilliant at knowing when to attack and when to build, even in the same opening.
#development#positional-play#strategy
Your attacks on f7 are devastating when the Bc4 bishop remains unchallenged
white
High Impact

f7 Attack Patterns Score 71% When Bc4 Diagonal Stays Open

What this means
Across all your Evans Gambit games, positions where your Bc4 maintains a clear diagonal to f7 produce a 71% win rate (12 wins out of 17 such games). In your Compromised Defense games specifically, Black's ...d6 and ...Be6 attempt to block the diagonal, and your results worsen significantly when you allow the trade of light-squared bishops. In 4 of your 10 Compromised Defense games, you traded bishops on e6 voluntarily, and your win rate in those games was just 25%. Game #254 is instructive: after Black played ...Be6, you immediately traded Bxe6 fxe6, but this actually strengthened Black's center and removed your primary attacking piece. Your f7 pressure evaporated and Black's doubled e-pawns controlled d5.
How to improve
Treat the Bc4 bishop as your most valuable attacking piece in the Evans Gambit — never trade it unless you get concrete compensation. When Black plays ...Be6, instead of trading, retreat to Bb3 or Bd5, maintaining the diagonal pressure. In the Compromised Defense, after ...d6, play Qb3 to add pressure on f7 alongside the bishop. The dual pressure of Bc4 and Qb3 on f7 is one of the Evans Gambit's most potent weapons — in your games where both pieces target f7, your win rate is 78%. Study Morphy's games in the Italian for masterful examples of maintaining diagonal pressure on f7.
#f7-attack#bishops#attack-patterns

Top Variations

1
Accepted Main Line
20 games
2
Declined Variation
12 games
3
Compromised Defense
10 games

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What we analyze in your Evans Gambit games

Your attacking accuracy after acceptance

Your compensation maintenance

Your tactical calculations

Your king safety in sharp positions

Learn This Opening

Play through the main line move by move

1.pawn to e4 (e4) pawn to e5 (e5)

The king pawn opening, both sides control the center.

Play pawn to e4 (e4)
Drag a piece or tap to move
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Bc54.b4Bxb45.c3Ba56.d4exd47.O-Odxc38.Qb3

Key Positions to Know

Critical concepts every Evans Gambit player should understand

The b4 Pawn Sacrifice

After 4.b4, White sacrifices a pawn to deflect Black's c5 bishop and gain a tempo for rapid central expansion with c3 and d4. This gambit, invented by Captain Evans in the 19th century, exemplifies classical attacking chess — material for initiative and development.

The Ideal Center

After ...Bxb4 c3 Ba5 d4, White achieves the dream center with pawns on d4 and e4. Combined with rapid piece development (O-O, Bg5, Qb3), this central dominance creates powerful attacking chances. Black must react precisely or face a devastating kingside assault.

The Attacking Assault

White's attacking plans include Qb3 (pressuring f7), Ba3 (preventing castling), and Ng5 (targeting f7 directly). The Evans Gambit has produced some of the most brilliant attacking games in chess history and remains dangerous even at the highest levels when properly prepared.

Strategic Plans

♔
White's Plans

  • •Develop pieces rapidly with O-O, Re1, Bg5, Nbd2-Nc4
  • •Control the center with pawns on d4 and e4
  • •Create threats against f7 with Qb3, Bc4, and potentially Ng5
  • •Open the position to exploit the development advantage
  • •Launch a kingside attack with Re1, Qb3-f3, and piece sacrifices

♚
Black's Plans

  • •Complete development as quickly as possible
  • •Consider returning the pawn with ...d6 or ...Nf6-Ng4
  • •Castle queenside to avoid White's kingside pressure
  • •Trade pieces to reduce White's attacking potential
  • •Hold on to extra pawns and transition to endgame if possible

Key Variations

Explore the most important branches and transpositions in the Evans Gambit.

Accepted Main Line

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O dxc3 8.Qb3 Qe7 9.Nxc3

The most critical line. White has tremendous compensation with central control, development lead, and attacking chances. Black is up two pawns but must defend carefully.

Normal Variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O d6 8.cxd4 Bb6

Black returns one pawn to complete development. This is more solid than taking on c3.

Lasker Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 d6 7.O-O Bb6 8.dxe5 Qe7

Black returns the pawn immediately for solid development. Named after World Champion Emanuel Lasker.

Evans Gambit Declined

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bb6

Black refuses the gambit, keeping the bishop on the a7-g1 diagonal. This is solid but somewhat passive.

Compromised Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Bc5 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 Bb6

Black returns the pawn immediately for a solid position. Less ambitious than taking on c3.

Opening Statistics

Original research from 425 real amateur games — data you won't find anywhere else.

Avg. Game Length
65.1moves1.3
Underdog Wins
44.0%4.7%
Quick Finishes
3.0%2.8%
Endgame Reach
76.2%2.0%
White's Edge
+14.9%11.2%
Favors BlackEqualFavors White

At 1200-1400

📊Games last 65 moves on average — right around average for this bracket.

📊The lower-rated player wins 44.0% of games — this opening is a great equalizer.

📊3.0% of games end before move 20 — most games get into the middlegame.

📊76.2% of games reach the endgame (40+ moves) — about typical for this bracket.

📊White's edge is +14.9% — White has a clear advantage at this level.

How This Opening Changes as You Improve

RatingGamesWhite's EdgeAvg. Game LengthUnderdog WinsQuick FinishesEndgame Reach
800-100032
+50.0%75 /0 /25
6054.5%3.1%84.4%
1000-120075
-1.3%48 /3 /49
55-845.8%8.0%61.3%
1200-1400101
+14.9%55 /4 /41
65-144.0%3.0%76.2%
1400-160099
+15.2%58 /0 /42
62-746.7%2.0%68.7%
1600-1800118
+5.1%51 /3 /46
60-1233.3%3.4%77.1%

Based on 425 games · Updated

Common Traps

Watch out for these dangerous tactical pitfalls

Lasker Trap

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O d6? 8.Qb3! Qe7 9.Re1 Bb6 10.Ng5! Nh6 11.Nxf7!

Black plays 7...d6 too slowly. White has Ng5 tactics and a devastating Nxf7 sacrifice. Black needed 7...dxc3 or 7...Nf6.

Steinitz Trap

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 d6 7.Qb3 Qd7 8.dxe5 Bb6 9.exd6 Na5 10.Qb4 Nxc4?? 11.Qxc4 Qxd6

Beginner Tips

💡

As White: Prioritize rapid development over pawn grabbing - get your pieces out quickly

💡

Look for attacking chances on f7 with Qb3, Bc4, and potentially Ng5 or Ba3

💡

As Black: Don't be greedy! Consider returning a pawn to complete development safely

💡

Black should often castle queenside to avoid the kingside storm

💡

Study the main lines carefully - one mistake can be fatal in such sharp positions

Common Evans Gambit patterns we detect

We automatically check if you fall for these specific traps.

About the Evans Gambit

The Evans Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4) is a romantic gambit sacrificing a pawn for rapid development and attacking chances.

We analyze your attacking effectiveness, tactical accuracy, and compensation quality in this classic gambit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Evans Gambit analysis

The Evans Gambit arises after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4, where White sacrifices a pawn to deflect Black's bishop and gain time for a powerful central pawn push with c3 and d4. Invented by Welsh sea captain William Davies Evans around 1827, it was the most played opening of the romantic era. White gives up the b4 pawn to gain a tempo on the bishop and establish a dominant center — the bishop pair and central pawns are the compensation.
After 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4, White has established a powerful center and developed rapidly. The plan is straightforward: 7.O-O, 8.Re1, Bg5 pinning the f6 knight, and a kingside attack. White's pieces coordinate excellently — the bishop on c4 targets f7, the queen can go to b3 or d3, and the rooks rapidly enter the game. White must play energetically; any hesitation allows Black to consolidate the extra pawn and exploit White's structural weaknesses.
Garry Kasparov famously revived the Evans Gambit in a 1995 exhibition game against Vishy Anand, shocking the chess world by playing a 19th-century romantic gambit against the world's top players. Kasparov recognized that the gambit's attacking compensation remained practically valid even in the computer age — the rapid development, open lines, and initiative create concrete winning chances that even top grandmasters struggle to neutralize at the board. This game renewed serious theoretical interest in the Evans Gambit.
The Lasker Defense — 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 d6 — was advocated by Emanuel Lasker as a solid antidote. Instead of 6...exd4, Black plays 6...d6, reinforcing the center and keeping the position more closed. White cannot open the position as explosively as in the main lines. After 7.Qb3 Qd7 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.O-O, White has some compensation, but Black's solid structure makes converting the initiative much harder. It remains one of the best practical responses for Black.

Famous Games

KasparovvsAnand
World Championship 19951-0

Kasparov revived the Evans Gambit at the world championship level, shocking Anand with the romantic opening and scoring a brilliant attacking victory.

MorphyvsAmateur
New York 18571-0

Paul Morphy, the greatest player of the romantic era, used the Evans Gambit to devastating effect, creating brilliant attacking masterpieces.

ShortvsTimman
Tilburg 19911-0

Nigel Short's use of the Evans Gambit in modern play, demonstrating that the old romantic lines still had teeth.

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