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| Moves | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ECO | C50–C59 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Origin | 15th or 16th century | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent | King's Knight Opening | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TheItalian Game is a family of chess openings beginning with the moves:
This opening is defined by thedevelopment of the white bishop to c4 (the so-called "Italian bishop"), where it attacks Black's vulnerable f7-square. It is part of the large family ofOpen Games or Double King's Pawn Games.
The Italian Game is one of the oldest recorded chess openings; it occurs in theGöttingen manuscript and was developed by players such asDamiano andPolerio in the 16th century, and later byGreco in 1620, who gave the game its main line. It has been extensively analyzed for more than 300 years.
The termItalian Game is sometimes used interchangeably withGiuoco Piano, although the latter also refers particularly to play after 3...Bc5.[1]
TheEncyclopaedia of Chess Openings gives the Italian Game ten codes: C50–C54 for the Giuoco Piano, and C55–C59 for the Two Knights Defense. Side lines are covered under C50.
Black's two main options are 3...Bc5, theGiuoco Piano, and 3...Nf6, theTwo Knights Defense. They are about equally popular,[2] but the resulting positions usually have a very different character.
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 |              | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 | | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
Until the 19th century, this line was the main line of the Italian Game. Dubbed theGiuoco Piano ("Quiet Game") in contrast to the more aggressive lines then being developed, this continues 4.d3, the positionalGiuoco Pianissimo ("Very Quiet Game"), or the main line 4.c3 (the original Giuoco Piano) leading to positions first analyzed by Greco in the 17th century, and revitalized at the turn of the 20th by the Moller Attack. 4.0-0 will usually transpose into the Giuoco Pianissimo after 4...Nf6 5.d3, while 4.Nc3 Nf6 is atransposition into theFour Knights Game.
Another option for White is the aggressiveEvans Gambit (4.b4), a popular opening in the 19th century which is still occasionally played. TheItalian Gambit (4.d4) may transpose into theScotch Gambit after 4...exd4; however, this move order allows Black the option of 4...Bxd4, so if White wants a Scotch Gambit, 3.d4 is usually preferred. TheJerome Gambit (4.Bxf7+) is unsound.
3...Nf6 is the more aggressiveTwo Knights Defense. This is more in the nature of a counterattack, and some (e.g.Bronstein) have proposed it be renamed so.
If White attempts to exploit the weakness of Black's f7-pawn with 4.Ng5, Black may try the knife-edged Traxler/Wilkes-Barre Variation (4...Bc5!?). After the more common 4...d5 5.exd5, Black generally avoids 5...Nxd5 allowing 6.Nxf7, the Fegatello orFried Liver Attack, or 6.d4, theLolli Variation, both of which are difficult to defend under practical conditions. Most common is 5...Na5, sacrificing a pawn for an active position. The very sharp Fritz Variation (5...Nd4) and the closely related Ulvestad Variation (5...b5) lead to wild positions with little margin for error for either side.
Aquieter option for White is 4.d3, when Black's main options are 4...Bc5, transposing into the Giuoco Pianissimo, and the solid 4...Be7, which is likely to lead to similar positions to theBishop's Opening.
Alternatively, White can play 4.d4, which may lead to theScotch Gambit after the usual reply 4...exd4.
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