Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bc4/3...Bc5/4. b4/4...Bxb4/5. c3

= Evans Gambit Accepted =

The most popular bishop retreat is 5...Ba5, after which white continues with the simple 6. d4.

Other retreats:
5...Bc5, trying to discourage 6. d4, is inferior, since white can play 6. d4 anyway with gain of time.

5...Be7 is the move most grandmasters play, and is considered to be okay. According to Wikipedia, "This has often been considered one of the "safer" retreats." The Indian grandmaster Viswanathan Anand has played it.

After that, there is a branch choice between 6...d6 or 6...exd4.

6...d6
6...d6

7. O-O or 7. Qb3

7. O-O

 * 7. O-O Bb6 8. dxe5 dxe5 9. Qxd8+ Nxd8 10. Nxe5 Be6 (Lasker)
 * 7. O-O Bb6 8. dxe5 dxe5 9. Qb3 Qf6 10. Bg5 Qg6 11. Bd5 Nge7 12. Bxe7 Kxe7 13. Bxc6 Qxc6 14. Nxe5 Qe6 (Chigorin)

7. Qb3

 * 7. Qb3 Qd7 8. dxe5 Bb6
 * 7. Qb3 Qd7 8. dxe5 Bb6 9. a4 dxe5 10. a5 Bc5 11. a6 (Stockfish 8 depth=32)
 * 7. Qb3 Qd7 8. dxe5 dxe5

6...exd4

 * 6...exd4 7. Qb3 (Short)
 * 6...exd4 7. O-O Nge7
 * 6...exd4 7. O-O Nge7 8. Ng5 d5
 * 6...exd4 7. O-O Nge7 8. cxd4 d5
 * 6...exd4 7. O-O dxc3 8. Qb3
 * 6...exd4 7. O-O d6 8. cxd4 Bb6 (Normal Position)
 * 6...exd4 7. O-O dxc3 8. Qb3

Theory table
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 * 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3