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Italian Game: Two Knights, 4.d3 Be7 5.O-O

Carlsen–Bu, FIDE World Cup 2017 · Gukesh–Nakamura, Norway Chess 2025 · 6:24 · ECO C55

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In this video

Game 1: Magnus Carlsen (2827) vs Bu Xiangzhi (2714)

FIDE World Cup 2017, 9 September 2017 · Black won (0-1) · 36 moves

Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.

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Key moments

  1. 5...O-OThe first move after the opening line0:28
  2. 21.Bxd5The evaluation moves from +0.92 to −1.641:34
  3. 30.Kd1Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here2:19
  4. 31.Nc2The evaluation moves from −2.49 to −3.982:24
  5. 33.Nf3The evaluation moves from −3.31 to −6.342:34
  6. 35...Rxg4The queens come off2:46
  7. 36...Rg1+Black wins after 36 moves2:52

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

Game 2: Gukesh D (2787) vs Hikaru Nakamura (2804)

Norway Chess 2025, 26 May 2025 · White won (1-0) · 42 moves

Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.

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Key moments

  1. 5...O-OThe first move after the opening line3:18
  2. 32...Nd3The evaluation moves from +1.92 to +3.78, and White stays more than two pawns ahead from here5:22
  3. 36...Qd7The evaluation moves from +2.93 to +4.055:42
  4. 39...Nd3The evaluation moves from +4.73 to +7.485:58
  5. 42.Qf5+White wins after 42 moves6:10

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

About these games

With 4.d3 White declines the sharp lines of the Two Knights and keeps the e4-pawn protected, aiming for a slow build-up with c3, Re1 and Nbd2 before any d4 break. After 4...Be7 and 5.O-O Black mirrors the quiet set-up with ...O-O and ...d6, and the play turns on a closed, manoeuvring centre in which either side may open the position with ...d5 or d4.

Carlsen–Bu reached the line by transposition. White played Bb3, c3, Re1 and Nbd2, and Black answered with 10...d5. White took on e5 with 13.Nxe5 and 14.Rxe5, and Black replied with the sacrifice 15...Bxh3, breaking open the castled king after 16.gxh3 Qxh3. White still stood better at +0.92 until 21.Bxd5, which dropped the score to −1.64. After 30.Kd1 the evaluation fell from −0.44 to −2.05, and 33.Nf3 took it from −3.31 to −6.34. The queens came off with 35...Rxg4, and Black won after 36...Rg1+, knocking the world champion out of the World Cup.

Gukesh–Nakamura followed a queenside plan instead: 6.Re1, 7.a4 and 8.Ba2 against ...Na5 and ...c5. White gained space with b4-b5, then opened the centre with 16.d4 and simplified into a queen-and-knight ending. The score rose from +1.92 to +3.78 at 32...Nd3 and from +4.73 to +7.48 at 39...Nd3, and White won after 42.Qf5+.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Carlsen vs Bu, FIDE World Cup 2017
  3. 3:00Game 2: Gukesh vs Nakamura, Norway Chess 2025

The opening line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O

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