Chessy
Facing the Italian Game: Nf6 After 4.d4
When White plays 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6, they are offering a sharp Italian Game. If they follow up with 4.d4, the position is dead level — Stockfish evaluates it at -0.07, essentially equal. You have the move, and what you do here determines everything. The good news: the engine's top choice is crystal clear. The bad news: most Black players pick something else, and the statistics show it costs them. Let's see what works and what doesn't — then you can try it yourself in the interactive drill below.
Practice playing against the Italian Game: Nf6
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Now it is your turn. Play the position against the engine in the interactive drill below and practise the correct response — exd4 — until it becomes automatic,
Create a free account →The Position Is Equal — Don't Give Away Your Share
The engine gives this position -0.07, an edge for White so tiny it might as well be zero. From the start of the game you've played accurately, and you've reached a tabiya where White has no advantage. Many Black players feel pressure here and lunge for a tactical solution, but the numbers tell a different story. Across 3,365,642 games in the Lichess database, White scores 54.3%, Black wins 42.5%, and only 3.2% end in draws. That White scoring percentage is inflated by Black's poor choices — the engine says the position itself is equal. Your job is to pick a move that keeps it that way.
The Engine's Top Move: exd4
The best reply by a clear margin is exd4. This simple capture leads to exd4 e5 d5 Bb5 — White recaptures the pawn on d4 with their e-pawn, you push your d-pawn to attack the bishop, and White retreats to b5. The resulting structure is balanced: White has a central pawn duo and active pieces, but you have rapid development and counterplay. In the 2,172,922 games where Black played exd4, White scored only 52.4% — noticeably lower than White's overall average in this position. That is the real signal: take the pawn, and the fight is fair.
Three Moves That Hurt Your Chances
The database is brutally clear about what goes wrong. Here are the most common Black replies that the engine flags as errors, ranked by how much they cost you. Nxe4 (340,673 games) is an inaccuracy that loses about 0.8 pawns. White scores 58.9% after it — you are trading a clear move for something fancy that backfires. d6 (304,971 games) is also an inaccuracy, losing roughly 0.7 pawns; White scores 54.1%. Not terrible, but why settle for worse when equality is available? d5 (163,371 games) is a full mistake, costing about 1.1 pawns. White scores 58.2% after it. The d5 push looks natural — fight in the centre — but it runs into complications that favour White every time. In every case the engine says the better move was exd4.
What About Other Replies?
Two other moves appear with meaningful frequency. Nxd4 (120,233 games) has White scoring 56.5% — that is noticeably worse than exd4 for you, and while the engine does not flag it as a clear mistake, the stats say you are giving White extra chances. Bb4+ (70,378 games) is worse still: White scores a commanding 62.0%, and while the engine doesn't label it a concrete mistake in the same way, the practical results are punishing. The lesson is consistent: the board is equal, but only one move — exd4 — reliably keeps it that way. Everything else lets White seize a share of your advantage.
Results across 3,365,642 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| exd4 | 2,172,922 | 52.4% |
| Nxe4 | 340,673 | 58.9% |
| d6 | 304,971 | 54.1% |
| d5 | 163,371 | 58.2% |
| Nxd4 | 120,233 | 56.5% |
| Bb4+ | 70,378 | 62.0% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Italian Game: Nf6 good for Black?
Yes, it is completely sound. The engine evaluates the position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 as -0.07 — dead equal. Black has no reason to fear this opening if they know the correct response.
What is the best move against 4.d4 in the Italian Game: Nf6?
The engine's top choice is exd4. This leads to the continuation exd4 e5 d5 Bb5, where Black has a balanced position with active counterplay. In 2,172,922 games at this position it is the most popular and best-scoring move for Black.
Why is Nxe4 bad in this position?
Nxe4 is classified as an inaccuracy that loses roughly 0.8 pawns. After 4.d4, taking on e4 with the knight leaves you vulnerable to White's central advance and tactical ideas. The engine says exd4 was significantly better.
What is White's scoring percentage after 4.d4?
In the Lichess database (3,365,642 games), White scores 54.3% overall. However, when Black plays the best move exd4, White's score drops to 52.4% — confirming that the position is essentially equal with correct play.
How many games feature the Italian Game: Nf6?
Over 3 million Lichess games have reached the Italian Game: Nf6 position. White wins 54.3%, Black wins 42.5%, with 3.2% draws — based on real rated games.