Chessy
Play Black in the Ponziani Opening: Romanishin Variation
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Be7, White has reached a quiet but very playable setup, and it is your job as Black to meet it accurately. The position is already on the radar of practical players, and the drill below puts you in the critical moment: White to move, Black to answer. Your main task is simple — stay solid, meet White’s central ideas, and know what the engine wants you to do when the position opens up.
Play the Ponziani Opening: Romanishin Variation against the engine
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Create a free account →The first thing to know: White has the initiative
Stockfish rates this +0.65, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here. The position is not a disaster, but White gets the easier game and can choose among several sensible plans, so you need to respond with care rather than drift. In practice, this opening is about keeping the position under control while White decides how to build the centre.
What the engine wants you to face
The engine’s best move is d4, and its main continuation is d4 d6 Bb5 Bd7. That is the tabiya you should be ready for in the drill. When White strikes in the centre with d4, your job is to remain coordinated and not let the position become too comfortable for White. The line also shows the kind of game you should expect: active piece play and a central struggle, not a slow manoeuvring battle.
What the database says White actually plays
Across 103,859 games at this exact position, White wins 49.8%, draws 3.9%, and Black wins 46.3%. The most common choice is d4, with 70,563 games and White scoring 50.4%. The other main continuations are Bc4, Bb5, Be2, d3, and h3. That means you must be ready for both the principled central push and the quieter developing moves that try to keep options open.
The moves to respect most
Several White tries are marked as inaccuracies here, and they are all tied to the same strategic lesson: Black is happiest when White does not strike with d4. Be2 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.7 pawns; d3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.8 pawns; h3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.8 pawns. In each case, better was d4. So when White hesitates, you have a chance to welcome that and keep the game pointed toward active central play.
Results across 103,859 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| d4 | 70,563 | 50.4% |
| Bc4 | 9,944 | 47.6% |
| Bb5 | 7,517 | 49.9% |
| Be2 | 3,992 | 52.0% |
| d3 | 3,679 | 47.8% |
| h3 | 1,815 | 49.9% |
Frequently asked questions
What should Black be ready for in the Ponziani Opening: Romanishin Variation?
You should be ready for White’s central challenge. The engine’s best move is d4, so the opening revolves around whether White gets that push in. If White delays it, you can usually stay comfortable and focus on development and solidity.
Is the Ponziani Opening: Romanishin Variation good for Black?
The position is playable, but the evaluation is not in your favour. Stockfish rates it +0.65, a small edge for White. That means you need accurate moves, especially against White’s central plan.
What is the most important White move to know here?
d4 is the main move to know. It is both the engine’s best move and the most-played continuation, which makes it the key thing to answer well in the drill. The more you understand this central break, the easier the opening becomes to handle.
Which White moves are the mistakes to watch for?
Be2, d3, and h3 are all listed as inaccuracies. In each case, the better move was d4, so those quieter choices give you a chance to meet a less challenging version of the position. If White hesitates, stay alert and keep the game simple and active.
How many games feature the Ponziani Opening: Romanishin Variation?
Over 103K Lichess games have reached the Ponziani Opening: Romanishin Variation position. White wins 49.8%, Black wins 46.3%, with 3.9% draws — based on real rated games.