Ponziani Opening: all variations and ECO codes

16 named lines across 1 ECO code (C44). Source: the CC0-licensed lichess.org opening database.

The idea

White prepares d4 with an extra pawn move rather than developing a piece first, aiming to build a full classical center. It’s a slower, more committal try than the Italian Game or Ruy Lopez that has fallen out of favor since Black has several well-tested ways to strike back before that center fully forms.

The main line

How the main line scores at your rating

Real Lichess win rates for 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3, playing as white: the family’s other variations are not separately tracked for win rate yet, main line only.

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All 16 named variations

Every named line in the Ponziani Opening family, from the CC0-licensed ECO classification: not separately tracked for win rate, but every ECO code and move sequence is real, sourced data.

• C44Ponziani Opening (main line)1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3
• C44Caro Gambit1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 d5 4.Qa4 Bd7
• C44Jaenisch Counterattack1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6
  C44Jaenisch Counterattack1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6 4.d3
  C44Jaenisch Counterattack1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6 4.d3 d5
  C44Jaenisch Counterattack1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6 4.d3 d5 5.Nbd2
• C44Leonhardt Variation1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 d5 4.Qa4 Nf6
• C44Neumann Gambit1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Bc4
• C44Ponziani Countergambit1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 f5
  • C44Schmidt Attack1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 f5 4.d4 d6 5.d5
• C44Romanishin Variation1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Be7
• C44Réti Variation1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nge7
• C44Spanish Variation1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 d5 4.Bb5

  • Harrwitz Attack

    • C44Nikitin Gambit1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 d5 4.Bb5 dxe4 5.Nxe5 Qd5 6.Qa4
• C44Steinitz Variation1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 d5 4.Qa4 f6
• C44Vukovic Gambit1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6 4.d4 Nxe4 5.d5 Bc5

Browse more

ECO Volume C: Open Games and the French Defense → · All ECO families → · Search and play every line in the interactive explorer →